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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Balanonema

Balanonema Kahl, 1931 (ref. ID; 2014)

Class Oligohymenophora: Subclass Hymenostomata: Order Scuticociliatida (ref. ID; 2014)
Philasterina: Family Loxocephalidae (ref. ID; 7520)

[ref. ID; 2014]
Small (30-50 um long) fusiform to cylindrical ciliates which may be dorso-ventrally flattened. Each end of the cell bears a short rather collar-like projection which is unciliated except for the terminal projection which carries a single caudal cilium. There is a groove present at the base of the anterior projection which travels on the right from halfway across the dorsal surface onto the ventral surface. A second groove may be present on the left side of the body near the posterior pole. The oral aperture is small and is located in the anterior body third. Somatic ciliation is in longitudinal rows and may be quite sparse in the middle region of the body. Contractile vacuole sub-central. Macronucleus spherical to reniform, sub-centrally located. Foissner (1978), Kahl (1930-1935) and Penard (1922) who describes a species of Balanonema under the name Uronema biceps.
Quote; Colin R. Curds, Michael A. Gates and David McL. Roberts "British and other freshwater ciliated protozoa Part II Ciliophora: Oligohymenophora and Polyhymenophora" Cambridge University Press, 1983 (ref. ID; 2014)
  1. Balanonema biceps (Penard, 1922) (ref. ID; 1308, 1622) reported year? (ref. ID; 1618)
  2. Balanonema dubium (Penard, 1922) Kahl (ref. ID; 1335, 1622)
  3. Balanonema sapropelica Foissner, 1978 (ref. ID; 7520 original paper) reported year? (ref. ID; 3698)

Balanonema biceps (Penard, 1922) (ref. ID; 1308, 1622) reported year? (ref. ID; 1618)

Descriptions

Ellipsoid; no cilia in the middle region; contractile vacuole central; macronucleus posterior to it. (ref. ID; 1618)

Measurements

42-50 um long. (ref. ID; 1618)