Ciliophora is a phylum of single celled protists dwelling nearly anywhere there is water. The Ciliophorans have a macronucleus and at least one micronucleus. The micronuclei are diploid, with two pairs of chromosomes however the macronucleus is polyploid, having either groups of three’s or even fours. They possess, of course, a cell membrane but unlike plants and fungi no cell wall. They do however have a “pellicle” which is a membrane that gives the cell more structure.
What is a Ciliophora without it’s cilia? Not a Ciliophoran that’s for sure! Ciliates are defined by their cilia, hairlike structure used for locomotion as well as for the gathering of food. The are arranged in rows called kineties along the pellicle. The have a cell mouth and eat bacteria. Some may even possess toxicysts or trichocysts, the former which is a sac contains toxin and the latter which is a sac containing a barb which may or may not be poisoned. Both of these are weapons used to capture prey, defend themselves or even attach themselves to a surface in the case of the barb.
Ciliates are a common but fascinating phylum of protists considered the height of protist evolution. For something so small and that which appeared so early on in the earth’s history they are incredibly complex.
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