Paramecium caudatum

Paramecium are typical organisms of the class Ciliata, and are commonly found in fresh water in the presence of decaying vegetable matter.  The surface of these organisms is covered by thousands of fine protoplasmic hairs called cilia.  These allow the animals to move by beating with a co-ordinated rhythm.

Our Paramecium cultures contain two distinct types of micro-organisms:

• the relatively small and far more numerous protozoa Chilomonas

• the larger ciliated Paramecium, in which internal organelles are far more readily visible.

The Paramecium are 3-4 times the size of the Chilomonas, making it almost impossible to confuse the two.  Chilomonas are essential members of the food chain and help break down macro particles which are then consumed by the Paramecium.

Typical number of organisms in the culture:  hundreds

See also Paramecium Culture Medium CM7 and 

BioCam chart WC59 Paramecium.

Image courtesy of Carolina Biological Supply Company

Click here to download care instructions (pdf, 0.1M, new window)

Downloads

Download a movie file that shows a a colony of Paramecium and Chilomonas magnified 40X - opens in a new window, mp4 file, 1M, opens with QuickTime or iTunes (may be played on a video iPod).  (Movie by A Watts)

Download the free Quicktime player