Vorticella
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Vorticella is a genus of protozoa, with over 100 known species. They are stalked inverted bell-shaped ciliates, placed among the peritrichs. Each cell has a separate stalk anchored onto the substrate, which contains a contracile fibril called a myoneme. When stimulated this shortens, causing the stalk to coil like a spring. Reproduction is by budding, where the cell undergoes longitudinal fission and only one daughter keeps the stalk. Other genera such as Carchesium resemble Vorticella but are branched or colonial.
Some of the most common species include:
- Vorticella campanula
- Vorticella citrina
- Vorticella communis
- Vorticella convallaria
- Vorticella floridensis
- Vorticella limnetis
- Vorticella marina
- Vorticella microstoma
- Vorticella monilata
- Vorticella patellina
- Vorticella similis
- Vorticella smaragdina
- Vorticella sphaerica
- Vorticella striata
- Vorticella submicrostoma
- Vorticella utriculus
