This is the last of the creatures found in Calvin's fish tank, and it reminded us of Wacky Wall Walkers. This is a ciliate that uses it cilia to walk along the top of the glass. Did it evolve this trait specifically for life in a fish bowl?
A quick google search on "ciliate walking on glass" came up with hypotrich, which this appears to be. The legs with which it walks are actually bundled cilia called cirri. What did people do before google? (spend hours in the library, I guess)
Sunday, April 26, 2009
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