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Figure 1 | Frontiers in Zoology

Figure 1

From: How the pilidium larva feeds

Figure 1

The pilidium snatches food from its flow field. All images show pilidia of Micrura alaskensis. (A) ~2-wk-old pilidium illustrating larval anatomy: apical organ (ao); anterior and posterior lobes (al, pl); lappets (la); primary ciliated band (pcb, dashed line); buccal funnel (bf); buccal ridge (br); stomach (st); cephalic disc (cd); trunk disc (td); muscles (ms; upper fiber is the largest circumesophageal muscle, lower one flattens lappets together). (B) Mid-saggital plane, posterior lobe, contrasting ciliation of larval epidermis and primary ciliated band (frame from Video 1). The line indicated, starting from the posterior cirrus (pc) and running halfway up the midline toward the apical organ, was straightened (B)’ to make a kymograph (B)”, wherein the non-beating cilium is apparent (arrowhead). Note the difference in beat between epidermal cilia (top of kymograph) and the primary ciliated band: slope and sweep are both greater in the primary ciliated band. The empty zone in the middle of the kymograph reflects that the epidermal cilia immediately apical of the band are shorter than elsewhere. (C) 4-week-old lab-raised pilidium at advanced proboscis stage, held by capillary and surrounded by Rhodomonas (bright dots); high-speed video of this larva was brightest-point projected to make panel D. (D) Typical flow field from the side. Note the path of a captured cell (arrowhead) which rides over posterior lobe, then between lappets. (E) Flow field around a similar larva as C, held in frontal view (i.e., looking along the slot between the lappets). (F,G) Sequences from real-time video (Videos 2 and 3) showing frontal and side views of capture events. In F the larva flexes one lappet, gulping a single cell. In G the larva captures two cells in quick succession. Arrowheads indicate captured cells.

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