Coleps elongatus
(Ehrenberg, 1830) Kahl, 1930
Most likely ID: n.a.
Synonym: n.a.
Sampling location: Purren pond
Phylogenetic tree: Coleps elongatus
Diagnosis:
- length 65–80 µm
- cell slender barrel-shaped to almost cylindrical
- two caudal cilia
- anterior end with to teeth
- uniform ciliation
- 14–17 longitudinal rows of plates
- “windows” in carapace pretzel-shaped
- one spherical macronucleus
- apical mouth opening with basket of pharyngeal trichites
Coleps elongatus I could detect so far only in the Purren pond. Possibly I have overlooked the species in the specimens from my other localities so far, because a safe assignment is possible only on the basis of the 2 caudalcilia and the form and arrangement of the “windows” in the carapace. However, the species is conspicuous by its slender shape even at low magnification. The “windows” of Coleps elongatus are pretzel-shaped, like in Coleps hirtus. However, Coleps elongatus has 5 “windows” in a row per half cell (s. fig. 3), while Coleps hirtus has only 4 “windows” per half cell.
Fig. 1 a-d: Coleps elongatus. L = 65 µm. A freely swimming specimen. Note the two caudal cilia (CC). Obj. 40 X.
Fig. 2 a-c: Coleps elongatus. L = 65 µm. The slightly squashed specimen shown in fig. 1 a-d. Obj. 100 X.
Fig. 3: Coleps elongatus. A strongly squashed specimen for visualisation of the pretzel-shaped “windows”. Per half cell each 5 “windows” are arranged in a row (1–5). Obj. 100 X.