You wouldn’t expect a microorganism made up of just a single cell to look so complex. Yet Euplotes has features that resemble legs, a mouth, and even a hairy belly.
This ciliate lives in water, from small ponds to vast oceans, where it crawls across surfaces in search of bacteria and algae. Using microscopic hair-like structures, it guides its food toward its mouth opening. In doing so, Euplotes plays an important role in the food web: it helps keep bacterial and algal populations in balance and serves as food for larger single-celled organisms, small crustaceans, and young aquatic animals.
When danger approaches, Euplotes can escape at remarkable speed or even change shape to make itself harder to catch. But what makes it truly special are the long bundles of cilia that function like legs. With these, it “walks” across the bottom, along plants, and even over fish.
Curious to discover what else this single-celled organism can do? Visit the Microbe of the Month next to the laboratory. In June, Euplotes is taking a stroll through ARTIS-Micropia. Will you join it?
