Fauna
Species

Paramecium caudatum

Paramecium caudatum

Also known as Slipper Animalcule

Paramecium caudatum is an elongated, slipper-shaped single-celled ciliate that propels itself through still water via rhythmic, coordinated waves of thousands of beating cilia. A deep oral groove draws bacteria, microalgae, and organic particles directly into forming food vacuoles while dual contractile vacuoles actively pump out water to maintain internal osmotic balance. When environmental stress or starvation strikes, two individuals fuse along their oral surfaces in a complex genetic exchange called conjugation.

MicroscopicFreshwaterCiliate
Paramecium caudatum reference1 / 7
(c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyEscherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Micrococcus luteus
Predators
  • Didinium nasutum
  • Amoeba proteus
  • Hydra vulgaris
ThreatsChemical pollution, aquatic toxins, and severe desiccation
HabitatsPonds, ditches, sluggish streams, and brackish wetlands
Life spanIndefinite via asexual binary fission; divides every 8–24 hours
Classification
  1. FamilyParameciidae
  2. SpeciesParamecium caudatum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Completely harmless to humans; safe to handle and observe under a microscope.
Responsible observation
  • Sampling: Collect organic-rich water and decaying leaves from the calm edge of a pond.
  • Slowing down: Add a drop of methyl cellulose to the slide to slow swimming for viewing.
  • Observation: Use 100x to 400x magnification with phase-contrast or darkfield lighting.
Related species
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