Vorticella

Vorticella is a genus of protozoa, with over 100 known species. They are stalked inverted bell-shaped ciliates, placed among the peritrichs. Each cell has a separate stalk anchored onto the substrate, which contains a contracile fibril called a myoneme. When stimulated this shortens, causing the stalk to coil like a spring. Reproduction is by budding, where the cell undergoes longitudinal fission and only one daughter keeps the stalk. Other genera such as Carchesium resemble Vorticella but are branched or colonial.

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Some of the most common species include:

• Vorticella campanula
• Vorticella citrina
• Vorticella communis
• Vorticella convallaria
• Vorticella floridensis
• Vorticella limnetis
• Vorticella marina
• Vorticella microstoma
• Vorticella monilata
• Vorticella patellina
• Vorticella similis
• Vorticella smaragdina
• Vorticella sphaerica
• Vorticella striata
• Vorticella submicrostoma
• Vorticella utriculus