Paramecium in their natural habitat with information animations

What else is fun about watching paramecia is that the way their cilia move makes them shoot through the water in a sort of spinning motion, spinning on their axis like a rifle bullet.  It’s a good thing that they don’t have ears, or they’d probably spend all day needing Dramamine.

And you say “macronucleus” so well!

Another fun little single-cell critter that I like are the Euglena.  They have long tails and a very very very simple eye.

The little green guy at the end that I watched and taped forever was VERY interesting.  He seemed to do things with thoughtful intent.  I ended up with entirely too much footage of that one single little one. 

I do wish my camera had the higher magnification, as you said Acci, to capture the twirling forward thrust motion.  It is incredible.

hulitoons - 10 October 2008 10:37 AM

I do wish my camera had the higher magnification, as you said Acci, to capture the twirling forward thrust motion.  It is incredible.

Just release them into heavy water, so that they can mutate and grow eight meters long.

So, if I add all the mice I’ve been catching would that do it?

hulitoons - 10 October 2008 11:41 AM

So, if I add all the mice I’ve been catching would that do it?

You might end up with Maegan moving to Iceland.

Really, though, it’s amazing how much is going on with little tiny critters all around us, that we never see and are mostly unaware of.

What a beautiful image….........albeit deadly.  Amazing!