MORPHOLOGY OF SIX FRESHWATER CILIATES

The current study using the living observation and the silver impregnation investigated six freshwater ciliates, Coleps elongatus, Protocyclidium citrullus, Epistylis hentscheli, Vorticella campanula, Metacineta macrocaulis and Tokophrya quadripatita. The morphology of Coleps elongatus, Epistylis hentscheli and Tokophrya quadripatita were first described in China. The infraciliature of E. hentscheli was first revealed, which can be identified by the zooid asymmetric elongated shape and the size of approximately (100-130) m(60-65) m in vivo. E. hentscheli has single contractile vacuole ventrally positioned, one C-shape macronucleus and one micronucleus. The freshwater habitat dichotomously branched E. hentscheli have characterization of infundibular polykinety 3 consisting of three equal ciliary rows and 71-74 transverse silverlines between peristome and aboral trochal band, while 35-47 between aboral trochal band and scopula. Other species were described in further detail and supplied with microphotographs.