Swan-neck ciliate
Lacrymaria olor
Lacrymaria olor is a unicellular ciliate known for its extremely extensible, swan-like neck. This proboscis can be stretched several times the length of the body to capture prey in the surrounding environment. The species prefers stagnant or slow-moving waters, often found among algae and detritus.
Details
Identification
Pear-shaped body with a very long, contractile neck and a ciliated oral region at the tip.
Social behavior
Solitary predator.
Diet
Exclusively predatory; feeds on smaller protozoa, especially other ciliates such as Halteria.
Hunting strategy
Active scanning of the environment with the extensible neck; upon contact, prey is paralyzed by toxicysts.
Overwintering
Survival as a cyst in the sediment during unfavorable environmental conditions.
Ecology
Ecological role
Important predator in the microbial loop; regulates populations of smaller protists.
Natural predators
Larger planktonic organisms such as rotifers or small crustaceans.
Competitor species
Other predatory protozoa such as Dileptus or Didinium.
Ecosystem service
Contribution to maintaining the biological balance within the aquatic microcosm.
Threats
Severe chemical pollution or complete desiccation of habitats.
Scientific profile
Profile
Habitat
Freshwater habitats such as ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams; often associated with detritus and algal growth.
Reproduction
Asexual reproduction by transverse binary fission; sexual reproduction via conjugation between compatible mating types.
Ecological role
Apex predator in the microbial food web; regulates the population density of smaller microorganisms and serves as a model organism for cellular biomechanics (origami principle).