Blepharisma
Sign in to saveBlepharisma is a genus of unicellular ciliate protists found in fresh and salt water. The group includes around 40 accepted species, and many sub-varieties and strains. While species vary considerably in size and shape, most are easily identified by their red or pinkish color, which is caused by granules of the pigment blepharismin.
Species
GENUS
- KingdomChromista
- PhylumCiliophora
- ClassHeterotrichea
- OrderHeterotrichida
- FamilySpirostomidae
via GBIF
Wikidata facts
- Image
- Mikrofoto.de-Blepharisma japonicum 15.jpg
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- taxon name
- Blepharisma
- Commons category
- Blepharisma
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Article
7 sectionsContents
- Appearance
- Reproduction and sexual phenomena
- Feeding and behavior
- Photobiology
- List of species
- References
- Further reading
Blepharisma is a genus of unicellular ciliate protists found in fresh and salt water. The group includes around 40 accepted species, and many sub-varieties and strains. While species vary considerably in size and shape, most are easily identified by their red or pinkish color, which is caused by granules of the pigment blepharismin.
All members of the genus possess a long series of membranelles on the left side of the oral groove, and an "undulating membrane" (a structure resembling a flap, scarf or small sail, composed of long cilia fused together as a single sheet) on the right side of the peristome, toward the posterior.