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Bursaria truncatella – Bursaria are among the largest species of ciliated protozoa (about 1 mm). They prey on smaller protozoa such as Paramecium.

Didinium nasutum – Didinium is a predatory ciliate that feeds on other ciliates (primarily Paramecium) that are frequently much larger than itself. Didinium uses trichocysts to harpoon their prey and rapidly ingest them through their expandable cytosome.

Didinium eating a Paramecium.

Dileptus anser- Dileptus is a predatory ciliate that will capture smaller protozoa with its long proboscis-like appendage that contains trichocysts, which paralyze their prey. They will then use their “trunk” to move prey into their cytosome at the base of their trunks, which is visible in this image.

Euplotes sp. – These cells are doral-ventrally flattened and possess compound ciliary structures called cirri on their ventral surface that are used for locomotion through the water or along surfaces. They prey upon smaller protozoan species.

Tetmemena pustulata – As with Euplotes, these ciliated protozoa are dorsal-ventrally flattened and possess cirri that are used in locomotion. This cell is in a late stage of division.

Lacrymaria olor - Lacrymaria is a small but voracious predator of small protozoan species such as Tetrahymena. Lacrymaria have the remarkable ability to extend their “neck” several times their body length in search of prey.

Tetmemena pustulata – Dorsal surface of cell showing rows of single short cilia that extend the length of the cell.

Tetmemena pustulata –This cell is in an early stage of division as evidenced by the formation of a duplicate cytosome forming below the existing cytosome.

Tetmemena pustulata – Hypotrich ciliates such as Tetmemena can be experimentally manipulated to form a duplicate set of ciliature on the same cell, resulting in a side-by-side “conjoined twin” cell called a mirror-imaged doublet. Interestingly, the mirror-imaged cytosome is rotated 180 degrees resulting in food items being propelled out of the cytosome. Because the cell has a normal cytosome, the cell can feed normally and divide true to form.

Blepharisma sp. – Blepharisma are another species of ciliate that typically possess pigmented granules and appear pink in the light microscope. The cells in this image are in the process of conjugating, which results in genetic recombination and nuclear reorganization within the cells.

Foraminifera test – Foraminifera are amoeboid protists with an external shell called a test.

Australian seashell

Australian seashell

Fossil diatom from diatomaceous earth sample.

Fossil diatom from diatomaceous earth sample.

Fossil shark tooth from Topsail Beach, NC.

Fossil shark tooth from Topsail Beach, NC.

Brugia malayi – Multiple larvae inside the ovary of an adult female. The cuticle of the adult can be seen in the upper right corner of the image.

Mayfly Nymph - Chloride cells on the surface of an abdominal segment from a mayfly nymph. Image taken using Hitachi S3200N SEM by Dr. Aaron Bell, courtesy of Dr. David Buchwalter lab.

Images courtesy of Dr. Aaron Bell

Analytical Instrumentation Facility, 2410 Campus Shore Drive, Monteith Research Center, Room 318, Raleigh, NC 27695-7531. Email us at aif-contact@ncsu.edu.

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