Raphidiophrys contractilis
Raphidiophrys contractilis | |
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Raphidiophrys contractilis | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Order: | Centrohelida |
Family: | |
Genus: | |
Species: | R. contractilis
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Binomial name | |
Raphidiophrys contractilis |
Raphidiophrys contractilis is a species of freshwater centrohelid.
Discovery
This species was first isolated from a brackish pond in Shukkeien Garden, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Japan.[1]
Description
Raphidiophrys contractilis is a spherical organism measuring between 7 and 19 µm in diameter and has several
Feeding behavior
Raphidiophrys contractilis preys on other protists, such as flagellates and ciliates, and captures them with its axopodia. The axopodia contain many organelles called kinetocysts, which are released on the prey's surface and probably have a paralyzing effect.[2] After the prey is attached to the axopodium, the axopodium contracts rapidly, at a velocity of about 1 mm/s, this being the reason for the species being named Raphidiophrys contractilis.[1]
Although R. contractilis is not a colonial species, several individuals can cooperate in the capture of larger prey. In this case, the individuals gather around the prey and fuse into a larger structure with partially joined cytoplasms and build a common food vacuole to ingest and digest the prey organism.[2]
References
External links
- Friday Fellow: Contractile Gentle-Scaled Centrohelid at Earthling Nature.