Penardiella interrupta (Penard, 1922)
Most likely ID: n.a.
Synonym: n.a.
Sampling location: Simmelried
Phylogenetic tree: Penardiella interrupta
Diagnosis:
- length 70–120 µm
- body ovoid, ellipsoidal or kidney-shaped
- cell laterally flattened
- oral bulge with extrusomes anteriorly
- a belt of extrusomes running meridionally from oral bulge
- belt of extrusomes running from oral bulge over ventral side to the mid of dorsal side
- symbiotic algae present, often filled with dark granules
- contactile vacuole at posterior end
- macronucleus oval, elongate or ribbon-like with an adjacent micronucleus
- soft, long cilia, slowly swimming
This haptorid ciliate is present in the uppermost (still aerobic) mud layer in Simmelried. I found 2009. Penardiella interrupta is somewhat difficult to identify because a thoroughly investigation of the ciliate is necessary to make the assignment certain. Like Spathidium, Penardiella has an oral bulge armed with extrusomes. From the oral bulge, a broad, double-row belt of extrusomes runs over the ventral side, encircles the posterior end und reaches up to the middle of the dorsal side, where the belt ends. Penardiella interrupta can be reliably identified by this characteristic.
Fig. 1 a-c: Penardiella interrupta. L = 100 µm. A freely swimming specimen in lateral view from left. Obj. 100 X.
Fig. 2: Penardiella interrupta. L = 100 µm. A second freely swimming specimen in lateral view from left. Obj. 100 X.
Fig. 3: Penardiella interrupta. L = 100 µm. A freely swimming specimen in lateral view from left. BE = belt of extrusomes, CV = contractile vacuole, EX = extrusomes, Ma = macronucleus, OB = oral bulge. Obj. 100 X.
Fig. 4 a-b: Penardiella interrupta. L = 100 µm. A slightly squashed specimen in ventral view. From the oral bulge a belt of extrusomes (about 10 µm wide) runs meridionally across the ventral side and encircles the posterior end. BE = belt of extrusomes, OB = oral bulge. Obj. 100 X.
Fig. 5: Penardiella interrupta. L = 100 µm. Coming from the ventral side, the belt of extrusomes runs to the middle of the dorsal side and ends there. BE = belt of extrusomes, DB = dorsal brush. Obj. 100 X.
Fig. 6: Penardiella interrupta. The ventral belt of extrusomes (BE) in a strongly squashed specimen. MO = mouth opening. Obj. 100 X.
Fig. 7: Penardiella interrupta. L = 100 µm. A strongly squashed specimen. The oral bulge is equipped with shorter, 3 µm long extrusomes that are rod-shaped and with slightly curved, 10 µm long extrusomes (EX). CV = contractile vacuole, Ma = macronucleus, Mi = micronucleus, SA = symbiotic algae. Obj. 100 X.
Fig. 8: Penardiella interrupta. The macronucleus (Ma) and micronucleus (Mi) in a second specimen. EX = extrusomes, SA = symbiotic algae. Obj. 100 X.