Dileptus viridis

A ciliate that often blooms abundantly in Mer Bleue.

At 320 μm in length, this specimen exceeds the size range given by Vďacny and Foissner in their Monograph of the Dileptids (220–270 μm). The D. viridis in my samples have a dorsal row of contractile vacuoles. However, the hindmost vacuole is somewhat larger and more distinct than the others, which are easily overlooked. In his original description of the species, Ehrenberg gives it one posterior C.V., possibly because he did not see the others.

From a mat of surface algae, in a cattail marsh attached to the Mer Bleue sphagnum bog.

Olympus BHB microscope with NCB-11 filter, 40X and 100X obj.