Physanter
Physanter Jankowski, 1975 (ref. ID; 2014)
Class Oligohymenophora: Subclass Hymenostomata: Order Hymenostomatida (ref. ID; 2014)
Synonym Faurella Roque, 1966 (ref. ID; 2014)
[ref. ID; 2014]
Medium to large (about 150 um long) clavate ciliate which swims broad end forwards. Body sometimes deformed when feeding upon diatoms. There is an anteriorly positioned oral groove which leads back to the middle of the body where the oral aperture is situated. The aperture leads to a vestibulum and a buccal cavity as in Paramecium. The buccal ciliation consists of 1 paroral kinety on the right and 3 peniculi on the left. Peniculus M1 is composed of 4 compact kineties, M2 has 4 separated converging kineties as in the quadrulus of Paramecium, and M3 has 2 long, diverging kineties. Somatic ciliation uniform and complete consisting of 60-70 kinetal rows which arch along the body to form pre-oral and post-oral suture lines. Trichocysts present. 2 contractile vacuoles, one at either end of the body each with 6 radiating serving canals. The macronucleus is ellipsoidal or slightly reniform in shape.
Single species genus originally described from a hot spring. Easily confused with certain clavate species of the genus Paramecium. In the latter genus however the membranelle M3 forms the quadrulus whereas in Physanter it is M2.
Quote; Colin R. Curds, Michael A. Gates and David McL. Roberts "British and other freshwater ciliated protozoa Part II Ciliophora: Oligohymenophora and Polyhymenophora" Cambridge University Press, 1983 (ref. ID; 2014)