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Spirotrichea: Heterotrichia: Blepharismidae: Blepharisma

Blepharisma japonicum
Suzuki, 1954
Synonym: B. undulans japonicus Suzuki, 1954)

Blepharisma americanum Genus: Elongate, ovoid; anterior apex often curves over the peristome; non contractile (Carey, 1992). In front of cytostome a two-layered undulating membrane on right edge; contractile vacuole and cytopyge terminal; rose-colored; many species (Kudo, 1966).
Species: 150-500 μm long; 25-35 ciliary rows on one side; macronucleus filiform; ends of macronucleus may become enlarged (Giese, 1973).

Blepharisma japonicum var. intermedium, cell body 194 μm long, μm wide, Japan, 199? by Y. Tsukii
Blepharisma japonicum Blepharisma japonicum Blepharisma japonicum Blepharisma japonicum

Blepharisma japonicum var. intermedium, macronucleus cylindrical with inconspicuous terminal swellings, 1-2; a cell stained with azure C, 3; an isolated nucleus; by Y. Tsukii
scale 100 μm scale 200 μm scale 300 μm; x 200
Blepharisma japonicum Blepharisma japonicum Blepharisma japonicum

B. japonicum var. intermedium Bhandary, 1962: 200-350 μm long, cannibal giants may reach 600 μm long, peristome 1/3 cell length, macronucleus cylindrical with inconspicuous terminal swellings, 6-30 micronuclei (Giese, 1973).
B. japonicum var. microstomata Isquith, 1966: 200-350 μm long, peristome narrow, macronucleus without taper or terminal swellings, 6-14 micronuclei (Giese, 1973).
B. japonicum var. nilssoni Repak, 1967: 250-400 μm long, knobbed macronucleus about 2/3 cell length (Giese, 1973).


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