Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Vacuum on a Stalk

We looked at some green and white scum in Calvin's fish tank and we found that Calvin's fish, Harold, has lots of friends.

Below is a creature that appears to be a big vacuum mouth that sucks up particles. I don't know why it contracts violently all the time. Is that how it swallows its food?



Update: This appears to be a type of rotifer. These are multicellular animals with a mouth (called a corona, which makes me thirsty), primitive jaws (called trophi) and a stomach. They also have a foot and toes, which are sometimes attached to plants, as the example above appears to be.

Update #2:  It's a Vorticella. Thanks Mr. Comments!

1 comment:

  1. Sorry I'm a few months late answering but what you have there is a vorticella. It brings back fond memories of the basement lab. I was also suprised to find Rotifers in our aquarium.

    http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Vorticella

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