Glaucoma scintillans

Glaucoma scintillans Ehrenberg, 1830 Ciliophora, Hymenostomatia, Tetrahymenida, Glaucomidae          Sixteen specimens of Glaucoma scintillans were found in a birdbath in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, that ranged in length from 50μm to 73μm.          The body shape is ellipsoidal and, in two examples, there are 38 ciliary rows. The oral opening features a row of cilia that curves around the anterior oral opening to the opposite side (species specific).          The macronucleus is large and centrally located. The contractile vacuole is in the lower third of the cell. Many round food vacuoles are present. Feeds on bacteria.