Re: Microscopic Worms

[steev ward <steevward@mac.com>]

Susan-
The protozoans that Dave mentioned (Spirostomum) could seem worm-like if they 
were moving through some debris. In addition there are some flatworms called 
Turbellarians that have cilia around their edges and move more like a worm is
expected to, frequently with body contractions. I have a picture of some of 
those here:
http://www.geocities.com/steevward/unk7b.jpg
They are microscopic but big compared to most ciliate protozoans. You can often 
see them with the naked eye and may have seen some large types on the glass of 
the aquarium where they move mostly with a kind of gliding motion like a
Planaria.

Common annelid worms are the oligochaetes like the Stylaria you mentioned 
before. They have bristles on their sides(chaetae), no cilia:
http://www.geocities.com/steevward/oligochaete1.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/steevward/oligochaete2.jpg

Nematodes are distinctly worm-like but with no cilia.


Susan Welenofsky wrote:

> Dave, Steev, or any interested party: We looked under Bob's microscope at 4x 
> power at the lint-like critters and I was wondering if ciliates look like 
> worms. These things did; they had one end that was clear, and moved very 
> worm-like.
>

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