Metopus latus Kahl, 1927
Most likely ID: n.a.
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Synonym: n.a.
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Sampling location: Simmelried
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Phylogenetic tree: Metopus latus
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Diagnosis:Â
- body fusiform
- length about 85 µm
- apical dome strongly flattened and twisted
- adorale zone short
- perizonal cilia long
- somatic cilia long and soft
- macronucleus kidney-shaped or ellipsoidal with adjacent micronucleus
- contractile vacuole large, terminal
- posterior end with caudal cilia
So far I could find only one specimen of Metopus latus in October 2006 in the Simmelried. The photos shown below were still taken on slide film with a 60 X lens at high layer thickness.
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Metopus latus can be easily recognized by the flattened and twisted anterior dome, on the outer edge of which runs the perizonal stripe with long cilia (s. fig. 1 b). The adoral zone is only short and has few membranelles (s. fig. 1 a). Kahl gives a length of about 85 µm. My specimen was a bit stouter and only 68 µm long, but this is still within the usual variability. As described and drawn by Kahl (s. above), the macronucleus is kidney-shaped and encloses a spherical micronucleus (s. figs. 1 b and 1 d). The caudal cilia are long but widely spaced.
Fig. 1 a-e: Metopus latus. L = 68 µm. A freely swimming specimen from ventral (a, c) and from right (b, d, e). Note the flattened and twisted apical dome with the long perizonal cilia on the edge. AMZ = adoral zone of membranelles, CC = caudal cilia, CV = contractile vacuole, Ma = macronucleus, Mi = micronucleus. Obj. 60 X.