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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Bursaria

Bursaria O.F. Muller, 1773 (ref. ID; 2013, 7706)

Class Kinetofragminophora: Subclass Vestibulifera: Order Bursariomorphida (ref. ID; 2013)
Suborder Bursariomorphina Fernandez-Galiano, 1978: Family Bursariidae Dujardin, 1840 (ref. ID; 7706)

[ref. ID; 2013]
The body is approximately ovoid in shape with the anterior truncated and the posterior broadly truncated. The dorsal surface is convex and the anterior half of the flattened ventral surface is divided by a wide slot which leads to the deeply invaginated peristomial cavity. The peristomial cavity opens anteriorly and is divided internally by a longitudinal fold; the cytopharynx is bent towards the animal's left. The membranelles wind clockwise around the opening of the peristomial cavity on the anterior edge and the body and dip into the cavity on the left side. The body is completely and uniformly covered in longitudinal rows of cilia. The macronucleus is band-like and there are many micronuclei. There are many contractile vacuoles which are distributed along the lateral and posterior edges of the body. Most easily confused with Thylakidium, Bursaridium and Climacostomum. Unlike Bursaria, the latter genus (a true spirotrich) does not have a deep anterior peristomial funnel. In Bursaridium the cytopharynx bends to the right while in Bursaria and Thylakidium it bends to the left. Bursaria is distinguished from Thylakidium by the former's possession of a longitudinal fold in the peristomial cavity.
Quote; Colin R. Curds "British and other freshwater ciliated protozoa Part I Ciliophora: Kinetofragminophora" Cambridge University Press, 1982 (ref. ID; 2013)
  1. Bursaria bullina O.F. Muller, 1786
    See; Lembadion bullinum (ref. ID; 4611)
  2. Bursaria lateritia Ehrenberg, 1831
    See; Blepharisma lateritium (ref. ID; 4610)
  3. Bursaria leucas Ehrenberg, 1833
    See; Frontonia leucas (ref. ID; 4611, 4613)
  4. Bursaria ovata (ref. ID; 4609)
  5. Bursaria spirigera Ehrenberg, 1833 (ref. ID; 4730)
  6. Bursaria truncatella O.F. Muller, 1773 (ref. ID; 1308, 1335, 1621, 1629, 2245, 3865, 4488, 4609, 4861) or 1786 (ref. ID; 3116) reported year? (ref. ID; 646, 1618, 3698, 4685) reported author and year? (ref. ID; 191)
  7. Bursaria virens Ehrenberg, 1833
    See; Climacostomum virens (ref. ID; 3116)
  8. Bursaria vorticella Ehrenberg, 1833
    See; Linostoma vorticella (ref. ID; 4610), Linostomella vorticella (ref. ID; 4613)

Bursaria truncatella O.F. Muller, 1773 (ref. ID; 1308, 1335, 1621, 1629, 2245, 3865, 4488, 4609, 4861) or 1786 (ref. ID; 3116) reported year? (ref. ID; 646, 1618, 3698, 4685) reported author and year? (ref. ID; 191)

Descriptions

Macronucleus a long rod; 10-34 vesicular micronuclei; fission mostly during night; feeds on various protozoa. (ref. ID; 1618)

Measurements

500-100 um long; cysts 120-200 um in diameter. (ref. ID; 1618)