Vorticella is a genus of ciliate protozoans found in freshwater ponds, lakes and slow streams worldwide, recognizable by its bell-shaped body attached to a substrate by a long, slender stalk. The stalk contains a coiled contractile fiber that can snap the body into a tight spring shape almost instantly when disturbed, a defensive reflex unusual in speed among single-celled organisms, and the bell-shaped body sweeps bacteria and other food particles toward its mouth using a ring of beating cilia.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Living or Extinct Scientific Name Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Wikidata: Vorticella
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Vorticella
WikipediaInfobox: taxon
Vorticella
Article text
Vorticella is a suspension feeder, and may have reduced or no cytopharynxes, a nonciliated tube for ingestion.
system statement
This protozoan is ciliated and is mainly found in fresh water environments.
In Group: Ciliates (Ciliophora), Lead
Vorticella is a genus of bell-shaped ciliates that have stalks to attach themselves to substrates.
View the Source 2. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ82743, descriptionView the Source Wikidata: Vorticella
- Wikidata Q82743, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
- Child Taxon Of: Ciliophora, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the SourceReader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.