Collotheca pelagica, epipharyngeal system
Collotheca pelagica; The prey (small flagellates) is transported to the proventriculus via an oscillating epipharyngeal system consisting of a ciliated membrane which seems to be enforced by a clasp (or maybe the clasp is only the optical transect of the ciliated membrane) (both inside the white circle). The ciliated membrane looks like the one from the terminal ciliated cells of the nephridial system, for example Asplanchna priodonta. The beating frequency is about 1,5-2 Hz. This system must not be confused with the mastax (Mx) which is located at the end (functionally), i.e. on the left side of the proventriculus in this image. From a video the "chewing frequency" of the mastax could be calculated to 0.5 Hz, so the two systems seem to be not synchronized. In contrast to the liquid in the vestibulum the content of the proventriculus is slightly brownish suggesting that there are already digesting processes going on in the proventriculus.

Video: M.Plewka
freshwater life
procaryota
algae
plants
protists
"worms"
molluscs
arthropods
marine life
mediterranean
tropical
misc
impresssum
plingfactory