|
Specimen
077
Colpidium colpoda are free-living ciliates commonly found in many freshwater environments including streams, rivers, lakes and ponds across the world. This species is used as an indicator of water quality and waste treatment plant performance - because C. colpoda feeds on bacteria, this species is typically found in heavily polluted freshwater habitats. C. colpoda is considered an intermediate sized ciliate,typically between 50 and 150 µm long. The cell is roughly oval or kidney-shaped in profile, with a distinct concavity on the anterior of the oral side. Cilia are arranged in 50-63 longitudinal rows. At the center of the cell is a large, ovoid macronucleus and a small spherical micronucleus. A single contractile vacuole is located slightly posterior to the middle of the body, near the right side. |