Phylum Ciliophora
Characteristics
- Most unicellular; some colonial
- Cilia used for locomotion
- Body shape maintained by protein-fibrous pellicle
- Have both macro- and micronuclei
- Most with cytostome (=cell mouth)
- Reproduce asexually (fission) or via conjugation
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Vorticella sp., a stalked ciliate; 400x
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Acineta sp., a Suctorian that lost cilia as adult
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Paramecium caudatum, 400x
See also labeled photo.
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Blepharisma sp., 400x
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Euplotes sp., 400x
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Didinium sp., 400x
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Stentor coeruleus, 200x
See also labeled photo.
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Bursaria truncatella; 100x
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Phylum Dinoflagellata (Dinozoa)
The Dinoflagellate, Peridinium sp.; 400x
See also labeled photo. |
Characteristics
- Two flagella in grooves: one transverse, one longitudinal
- Both photosynthetic and hetertrophic forms; many can switch
- Some are bioluminescent
- Most are unicellular, but some form colonies
- Population booms cause "red tides"
- Many photosynthetic forms are endosymbiotic in other protozoans and animals such as corals
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Phylum Apicomplexa
Monocystis lumbrici gametocyst and spores; a gregarine found in the seminal vesicles of earthworms; feeds on sperm; 400x
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Characteristics
- Unique apical complex (not visible with light microscope)
- Lack cilia, flagella, pseudopods
- All are parasitic
- Gregarines infect various invertebrates
- Coccidians infect mostly vertebrates
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Phylum Parabasalia
Trichonympha sp., an endosymbiote from the guts of termites where it digests wood; 200x
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Trichomonas vaginalis, a parasite in human urogential tracts; stained whole mount; 400x
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Characteristics
- Multiple flagella: 4 to 1000s
- Lack mitochondria
- All are endosymbionts of animals; may be beneficial or harmful
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Phylum Euglenozoa (Euglenida)
Euglena sp.; 400x
See also labeled photo
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Euglena acus, an elongated species; 400x
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Characteristics
- Have 1 or 2 flagella
- Single nucleus
- Reproduce asexually (fission)
- Includes free-living and parasitic forms
- Euglenids are mostly free-living
- Have proteinaceous pellicle to hold shape
- Most are photosynthetic via secondary endosymbiosis
- Kinetopastids are mostly parasitic
- Flagellum forms edge of undulating membrane along elongted cell
- Greatly elongated mitochondrion (stained dark in photo)
- Many have complex life cycles, often with multiple hosts
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Phacus sp., AZ; 200x
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A non-photosynthetic euglenid, probably Trachelomonas sp.; 200x
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Trypanosoma rhodesiensae in blood smear; Causes African Sleeping Sickness. 1000x
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Phylum Amoebozoa
Amoeba proteus; 100x
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Chaos carolinensis (a.k.a. Pelomyxa carolinensis), 100x
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Characteristics
- Cell surrounded by plasma membrane; some form an external test
- Pseudopodia used for locomotion
- Most free-living, but a few are endosymbiotic, either commensal or parasitic
- Reproduce asexually (fission)
- The classification of ameboid protozoans remains controversial
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Difflugia sp., an amoeba with a test composed of mineral grains; 400x
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Arcella sp., an amoeba with a chitinous test (dorsal view); 200x
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Phylum Foraminifera
Foraminiferan "strew" (tests); 100x
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Foraminiferan "strew" (tests); 100x
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Characteristics
- External test (skeleton), usually of calcite (CaCO3)
- Tests usually a series of chambers of increasing size
- Tests have 1 or 2 holes through which pseudopods are extended
- Heterotrophic, but some have symbiotic algae
- Marine
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Phylum Radiolaria
Radiolarian "strew" (tests); 100x
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Radiolarian "strew" (tests); 100x
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Characteristics
- Limited to no locomotion
- Internal siliceous skeleton; typically with elaborate structure
- Have axopods similar to Heliozoans, but these are not visible in dead tests
- Heterotrophic, but some have endosymbiotic dinoflagellates
- Marine waters only
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Phylum Heliozoa
Actinosphaerium sp.; 200x
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Actinophrys sp.
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Characteristics
- Spherical shape
- Have radiating axopodia (thin, straight pseudopods supported by microtubules)
- Axopodia used to capture food and for locomotion (changes in length allow them to roll)
- Outer portion of cell (ectoplasm) is rich in vacuoles used for flotation
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