Opercularia (ciliate)
Opercularia is a genus of freshwater, colonial, sessiline peritrich ciliates. As consumers of free bacteria in the water, several species of Opercularia serve as important indicator organisms in the study of wastewater treatment. Operculariids can be distinguished from other sessile peritrichs by their prominent, non-contractile stalk; peristome without lip; and elongate, horseshoe-shaped macronucleus.
Etymology
The name Opercularia comes from the Latin opercularis, which means covered. This is in reference to their lid-like peristomal disk.Selected species
Selected species include:- Opercularia allensi
- Opercularia coarctata
- Opercularia cylindrata
- Opercularia longigula
- Opercularia minima
- Opercularia nutans
- ''Opercularia stenostoma''