Blepharisma americanum, with a euglenid inside its food vacuole

Blepharisma americanum has multiple macronuclei and a peristome almost half the length of its body.  It is quite pink, and has a conspicuous undulating membrane (that small sail-like structure near the bottom of the mouth).  This one has swallowed a photosynthetic euglenid, which doesn't seem to realize it is about to be digested.

Collected in late august, from Turtle Pond in Wakefield, Quebec.
Olympus BHB, 40X obj.

• #science_technology
• #blepharisma
• #blepharisma_americanum
• #ciliate
• #pond_life
• #heterotrich