Tintinnidae

Fig 1a : Favella serrata Line drawing, showing lorica structure, and cell morphology; Fig 1b: Favella serrata Drawing of original description after Möbius (1887)

Eutintinnus (you-tin-tin-us), one of the tintinnid ciliates. These are mostly marine choreotrichs in which the cell is located within an open lorica which it drags around while it swims. The different genera and species are mostly distinguished by the different appearances of the lorica. This genus has a conical lorica which is open at both ends. With an adoral zone of membranelles located around the top end of the cell. Differential interference contrast.

Lugol's fixed specimen

Tintinnidium, an oligotrich ciliate. The cell usually resides in an irregular gelatinous lorica to which particles adhere. The lorica is usually attached to the substrate. The organisms may be found free-swimming. When found in a lorica the cell is trumpet-shaped with a thin drawn out posterior that adheres to the base of the lorica. When free-swimming, the posterior of the cell becomes broadly rounded. A prominent adoral zone of membranelles is seen. The macronucleus is rounded. From a rainwater holding pond near Boise, Idaho. Bright field illumination.

From the Bay of Villefranche in December 2013, lugol's-fixed specimen, Z-stack of images made using a 60x objective and DIC optics.

Specimen lugol's-fixed from the Ionian Sea.

Description: From Daday 1887 described as Tintinnus inquilinus, Plate 18, fig. 2.

Fig 4: Favella serrata Lugol?s fixed cell, lateral view, showing pedicel, peduncle, oral rim, and ciliate cell

Eutintinnus (you-tin-tin-us), one of the tintinnid ciliates. These are mostly marine choreotrichs in which the cell is located within an open lorica which it drags around while it swims. The different genera and species are mostly distinguished by the different appearances of the lorica. This genus has a conical lorica which is open at both ends. With an adoral zone of membranelles located around the top end of the cell. Phase contrast.

Tintinnidium, an oligotrich ciliate. Although often found residing in a gelatinous lorica with attached particles, this is a liberated free-swimming organism. Compared with loricate organisms, the free-swimming individuals have a broadly rounded posterior. The rounded macronucleus is seen on the organism's right. Ingested diatoms are visible. From a rainwater holding pond near Boise, Idaho. Oblique illumination.

Drawing from Claparde & Lachmann 1858 (Plate 8, figure 5) of the species now known as Steenstrupiella steenstrupii as "Tintinnus steenstrupii". The scale bar reflects the text description (pg 200) as about 0.2 mm in overall length. The species (and now genus) was presumably named after the Danish biologist Japetus Steenstrup (1813-1897).

Fig 5: Favella serrata Lugol?s fixed cell, lateral view, showing pedicel, peduncle, oral rim, and ciliate cell

Fig 6: Favella serrata Lugol?s fixed and DAPI stained cell, illustrating shape and location of the macronuclei

This form does not have a name as far as I know

In a sample from the Tara expedition (Station 68) there were 30 large cells for about 1000 'normal-size' cells.

Genetic material is shared between two individuals by the formation of a cytoplasmic bridge