Coleps as a hunter

Coleps is a small ciliate covered with a hard cell wall almost like armor. When coleps finds feeble organisms, it attacks them forcefully, but here it is just swimming around lookiing for food.

Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University
This organism is Coleps hirtus.

http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/PDB/Im.....

Sampling Date : 03 July 2009

Sampling Site : Hirose River B  Google Map

Microscopic view of active organisms

Various organisms such as Coleps, Strobilidium , Euglena, Diatom, and some small flagellates can be seen. This is the world of active microorganisms, which cannot be recognized with naked eye.

Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University
(a) It is difficult to determine whether this organism is Strobilidium or Strombidium. Strobilidium

http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/PDB/Im.....

Strombidium

http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/PDB/Im.....

(b) Members of the Euglenid group have similar shapes, so they are also difficult to identify.

(c) The Coleps in this video is Coleps hirtus.

Sampling Date : 03 July 2009

Sampling Site : Hirose River B  Google Map