This large ciliate was found in a saltwater aquarium.
Although it is a single-celled organism, it is quite large and easily visible without any magnification.
Questions:
- The video shows two types of movement. Can you figure out how this critter manages to move? (One way of moving is easy to describe, but may be difficult to explain. But, try to come up with some possible explanations.)
- For what reasons do you think this critter needs to move? Can you find any evidence from the video clip?
- What does the critter use each of its ends for (the wider rounded end and the narrow end)?
- Can you find any cycles in the video? How do these cycles compare to other cycles you know about?
- What is the advantage to the critter for being tubular in shape? How does this critter use its tubular shape?
- Can you find or think of other living or human-made tubular shapes and cycles that serve similar purposes to those of this critter?
- What else can you find out about this critter?
Meanings:
Spirostomum
spiro- means to breathe
stoma means mouth, opening
Spirostomum = mouth breather, which of course it doesn’t do. It absorbs oxygen through its cell membrane.