Stentor amethystinus

A noncontractile Stentor with symbiotic algae and broad stripes of purplish pigment granules between its ciliary rows (easily visible at 1:15). S. amethystinus resembles S. pyriformis, but has only one macronucleus. Both species occur in samples from Mer Bleue, but S. amethystinus is usually smaller and stouter, with a more pointed posterior. The purple pigment granules tend to collect around the macronucleus, and around the numerous micronuclei. I ve identified the micronuclei in the final sequence of the video. Collected among plankton, from a dystrophic lake in the Mer Bleue conservation area. 200X, 400X, 1000X