Vorticella (bell animal)
Vorticella spp. · Aquatic life
Under the microscope · Photo: Don Loarie / CC BY
Also called Bell animalcule, Stalked ciliate, Peritrich ciliate
How to identify Vorticella (bell animal)
- Microscopic, bell or upside down cup shaped cell, about 0.03 to 0.15 mm
- Sits on a thin stalk that coils like a spring and snaps back when disturbed
- Ring of beating cilia around the mouth of the bell
- Often attached to algae colonies, zooplankton, plants or debris
Similar species
Carchesium and Epistylis look similar but form branched colonies; Stentor is much larger and trumpet shaped.
Profile
| Season | All year; most abundant in warm months. |
|---|---|
| Depth | Attached to surfaces; carried in the open water on algae or zooplankton |
| How it spreads or reproduces | Cell division; free swimming stages settle on new surfaces; cysts survive drying |
| Habitat | Ponds, lakes, lagoons and wastewater systems; on any surface in the water. |
Why it matters in a lake
Feeds on bacteria, so big numbers point to organic enrichment. Often seen riding on blue green algae colonies and is an important indicator organism in wastewater lagoons.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Common
- Oregon: Common
- Wyoming: Common
Classification
| Kingdom | Chromista |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Ciliophora |
| Class | Oligohymenophorea |
| Order | Sessilida |
| Family | Vorticellidae |
| Scientific name | Vorticella spp. |
Difflugia (sand shell amoeba)
Arcella (dome shell amoeba)
Paramecium (slipper animal)
Stentor (trumpet animal)
Daphnia (water flea)Need a hand?
Found it in your lake?
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