Bursaria (ciliate)

Bursaria is a genus of ciliates in the class Colpodea. They are relatively large and feed on other protists in freshwater habitats.

Bursaria
Bursaria ovata
Scientific classification
Domain:
(unranked):
(unranked):
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Bursariomorphida
Family:
Bursariidae
Genus:
Bursaria

Description

Bursaria sp. (no. 4) and other common aquatic protists. The oral end of the cell is shown pointing to the left.

The cell body of Bursaria is scoop-shaped, and can be up to 1 mm long. Their oral region is crescent-shaped, and there is a band of membranelles (compound structures composed of multiple cilia) leading into the mouth. They live in the plankton of freshwater environments and ingest other protists, including algae and other ciliates.[1] Bursaria are the largest-sized colpodean ciliates.[2]

Systematics

Bursaria is the sole genus in the family Bursariidae.[2] The genus was originally described by O. F. Müller in 1773, with B. hirundinella as the type species.[3] It was formerly classified as a heterotrich, but is now classified as a member of the class Colpodea, based on the development of its oral structures (stomatogenesis) and its ultrastructure.[2]

References

  1. J., Patterson, David (2003). Free-living freshwater protozoa : a colour guide. Hedley, Stuart. Washington, DC: ASM Press. ISBN 9781555812751. OCLC 56025552.
  2. Lynn, Denis H. (2008). The ciliated protozoa : characterization, classification, and guide to the literature. New York: Springer. ISBN 9781402082382. OCLC 272311632.
  3. "Bursaria hirundinella O.F.Müller :: Algaebase". www.algaebase.org. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
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