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Portrait of the small Enchelyid ciliate, Pithothorax rotundus (Kahl, 1927). The body is cylindrical, bluntly tapered anteriorly and rounded posteriorly. The right side is gently convex, the left side more straight giving the anterior portion the appearance of being bent slightly to the left. The pellicle is rigid with longitudinal ridges much less prominent than those seen in P. processus. The ridges converge around the anterior apical cytostome. The cytopharynx is supported by delicate trichites. In this image a cluster of discharged extrusomes is seen to the viewer's right. The somatic cilia are reduced to a few kineties in the anterior and posterior quarter of the cell. The macronucleus is central and the single contractile vacuole posterior. Pithothorax is a sapropelic genus usually found in hypoxic bottom sediments with decomposing organic matter. Collected from bottom sediments of freshwater aquaculture tank near Boise, Idaho January 2004. DIC optics.
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Surface view of Pithothorax processus a small haptorid ciliate found in polysaprobic habitats. The body is a slightly flattened cylinder. The pellicle is rigid with longitudinal ribbing. The oral aperture is at the anterior apex surrounded by projections of the pellicular ridges. There is a curved funnel-shaped posterior process from which a long caudal cilium protrudes (seen here). The round macronucleus is anterior and the contractile vacuole is located in the posterior 1/3 at the periphery (seen here). The somatic ciliature is confined to the anterior and posterior quarters of the body. From stagnant organically enriched freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. DIC optics.
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Silverline system (ventral view) of Pithothorax rotundus (Kahl,1927). Collected from sapropelic bottom sediments of a slow-moving freshwater stream near Boise, Idaho. Stained by the dry silver nitrate technic (see Foissner, W.Europ. J. Protistol.27,313-330;1991). Brightfield.
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Saggital optical section of Pithothorax processus (Kahl, 1926), a small haptorid ciliate found in polysaprobic habitats. The body is a slightly flattened cylinder. The pellicle is rigid with longitudinal ribbing. The oral aperture is at the anterior apex surrounded by projections of the pellicular ridges. There is a curved funnel-shaped posterior process from which a long caudal cilium protrudes (seen here). The round macronucleus is anterior and the contractile vacuole is located in the posterior 1/3 at the periphery (seen here). The somatic ciliature is confined to the anterior and posterior quarters of the body. From stagnant organically enriched freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. DIC optics.
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Surface view of Pithothorax processus (Kahl, 1926) a small haptorid ciliate found in polysaprobic habitats. The body is a slightly flattened cylinder. The pellicle is rigid with longitudinal ribbing. The oral aperture is at the anterior apex surrounded by projections of the pellicular ridges. There is a curved funnel-shaped posterior process from which a long caudal cilium protrudes (seen here). The round macronucleus is anterior and the contractile vacuole is located in the posterior 1/3 at the periphery (seen here). The somatic ciliature is confined to the anterior and posterior quarters of the body. From stagnant organically enriched freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. DIC optics.
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In vivo portrait of Pithothorax processus (Kahl, 1926), a small haptorid ciliate found in polysaprobic habitats. The body is a slightly flattened cylinder. The pellicle is rigid with longitudinal ribbing. The oral aperture is at the anterior apex surrounded by projections of the pellicular ridges. There is a curved funnel-shaped posterior process from which a long caudal cilium protrudes (seen here). The round macronucleus is anterior and the contractile vacuole is located in the posterior 1/3 at the periphery (seen here). The somatic ciliature is confined to the anterior and posterior quarters of the body. From stagnant organically enriched freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. June 2005. DIC optics.
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Portrait of Pithothorax processus (Kahl, 1926), a small haptorid ciliate found in polysaprobic habitats. The body is a slightly flattened cylinder. The pellicle is rigid with longitudinal ribbing. The oral aperture is at the anterior apex surrounded by pointed projections of the pellicular ridges. There is a funnel shaped posterior process from which a long caudal cilium protrudes (visible here). The round macronucleus is anterior. The somatic ciliature is confined to the anterior and posterior quarters of the body. Although this specimen was stained by the silvercarbonate technic (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991, the somatic kinetids did not impregnate. Short rod shaped partially discharged extrusomes (stained brown here) are visible anteriorly. From stagnant organically enriched freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. Brighfield.
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In vivo portrait of Pithothorax processus (Kahl, 1926), a small haptorid ciliate found in polysaprobic habitats. The body is a slightly flattened cylinder. The pellicle is rigid with longitudinal ribbing. The oral aperture is at the anterior apex surrounded by projections of the pellicular ridges. There is a curved funnel-shaped posterior process from which a long caudal cilium protrudes (seen here). The round macronucleus is anterior and the contractile vacuole is located in the posterior 1/3 at the periphery (seen here). The somatic ciliature is confined to the anterior and posterior quarters of the body. From stagnant organically enriched freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. June 2005. DIC optics.
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Cross-sectional view of Pithothorax processus (Kahl, 1926) a small haptorid ciliate found in polysaprobic habitats. The body is a slightly flattened cylinder. The pellicle is rigid with longitudinal ribbing giving it a fluted appearance. From stagnant organically enriched freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho.June 2005. DIC.
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Lasteral view of Pithothorax processus (Kahl, 1926), a small haptorid ciliate found in polysaprobic habitats. The body is a slightly flattened cylinder. The pellicle is rigid with longitudinal ribbing. The oral aperture is at the anterior apex surrounded by projections of the pellicular ridges. There is a curved funnel-shaped posterior process from which a long caudal cilium protrudes. The round macronucleus is anterior and the contractile vacuole is located in the posterior 1/3 at the periphery. The somatic ciliature is confined to the anterior and posterior quarters of the body. From stagnant organically enriched freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. June 2005. DIC optics.