The
Didinium belongs to the Phyllum
Ciliophora. They are from 80-200 um
long. Didinium
are fast moving carnivorous protozoans that feed almost exclusively on
live Paramecium.
When its
"nose" (shown at top) strikes a Paramecium it latches on with a
threadlike trichocyst. Once captured and paralyzed, the didinium
devours the Paramecium whole.
The "C"-shaped structure inside the body is a band shaped
nucleus and can sometimes be seen with a regular light microscope.
Didinium
will encyst when the food source is depleted and excyst when the food
returns. 
Like
it just caught a huge fish, the Didinium reels in the Paramecium.
Amazingly, it will stuff this entire Paramecium totally inside its body! |
