Ref ID : 7722
Karl G. Grell and Gertrud Benwitz; [Die Ultrastruktur von Ephelota gemmipara Hertwig und E. plana (Suctoria): Ein Vergleich I. Die Adulte Form]. Protistologica XX(2):205-233, 1984
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1) In Ephelota gemmipara which - in contrast to E. plana - can be fed with the ciliate Strombidium, it could be shown that the feeding tentacles pass a "preparatory phase" as soon as the capturing tentacles made contact with the prey. 2) In this phase the axoneme gets pushed into the tentacular knob in a similar way as in the tentacles of Suctoria whose tentacular knob has already penetrated the prey. 3) The feeding tentacles which have the same ultrastructure in both species, wear a wreath of 3-4 rows of haptocysts at their tentacular knob. The capturing tentacles are endowed with groups (batteries) of haptocysts over two-thirds of their length. 4) The capturing tentacles of E. gemmipara are thread-like and contain two (rarely three) axonemes, those of E. plana are ribbon-like and contain 5-6 (rarely 7-9) axonemes which are arranged in line. In both cases the axonemes are separated by epiplasmic partitions. There is a species-specific difference in the microtubular pattern of the axonemes. 5) In both species bundles of microfilaments (MFB) can be identified. They are arranged in a definite manner. For instance, in E. gemmipara MFB have been found which are attached to axonemes of the capturing tentacles. In E. plana MFB extend from the bottom of the apical pit of the cell body to the stalk attachment area (scopuloid). It is discussed what their biological function may be if the MFB are contractile. 6) The ultrastructural differences of the capturing tentacles and the various arrangement of the MFB suggest that both species are different in their nutritional biology.