The body is elongate, somewhat sac-like, five or six times as long as broad, plastic, and frequently contains brightly colored food granules. The triangular peristome takes up the greater part of the anterior end, and the mouth is situated at the sharper angle of the triangle, about one-fourth of the total length from the anterior end. The cuticle is longitudinally striated, the lines having a slightly spiral course. They are not closely set, and fine cilia are thickly inserted along their edges. The endoplasm is granular and viscous. The motile organs consist of an adoral zone of membranelles, which stretch along the left edge of the peristome and the front edge of the body. The right edge of the peristome supports an undulating membrane. The nucleus is moniliform and extends the full length of the left side; a number of micronuclei are distributed along its course (Maupas).

Length 400µ; diameter at widest part 105µ. Maupas gives the length from 305µ to 495µ; and Stein 376µ to 564µ. Very common.

For a more extended account of the structures, see the excellent description by Maupas '83.


Fig. 45.—Condylostoma patens.
[ ENLARGE ]

Key to the marine genera of Stentoridæ.
Diagnostic characters: The peristome is relatively short and limited to the front end of the animal, so that its plane is nearly at right angles to that of the longitudinal axis of the body. The adoral zone of cilia either passes entirely around the peristome edge or ends at the right-hand edge. The surface of the peristome is spirally striated and provided with cilia. Undulating membranes are absent.
1. Peristome circular in outline; limited to the anterior end Genus Stentor
2. The peristome is drawn out into two wing-like processes; tube-dwelling Genus Folliculina

Genus STROMBIDIUM Cl. & Lach. '58.

(Stein '67; Bütschli '73; Fromentel '74; Kent '81;
Gruber '84; Entz '84; Maupas '83. Bütschli '88.)

Small, colorless (except for ingested food) animals with characteristic springing movements. The form is usually constant, but in some cases may be plastic like Astasia; it is usually globular or conical, the posterior end being more or less pointed, the anterior end broadest. The latter is surrounded by a complete circle of the adoral zone, the oral end of which passes into a peristomial depression which extends deep into the middle of the body. The mouth, with a very small œsophagus, lies at the bottom of the inturned peristome. The region surrounded by the adoral zone is frequently drawn out into an anterior process, occasionally bearing a pigment mass. The ventral surface in some cases bears cilia, which may be distributed or restricted to a row of large cilia. Trichocysts are usually present and may be widely spread, limited to the posterior region, or arranged in a girdle about the middle. The contractile vacuole is simple, and posterior in position. The macronucleus is spherical and usually central in position. Movement is rapid swimming, combined with resting and floating periods, the latter usually terminated by a sudden leap.