Conjugation of paramecium multimicronucleata, powers and mitchell

Microscopic examination of both living and stained forms indicates that the so‐called ‘multivacuolate’ and ‘amicronucleate races of Paramecium caudatum’ belong to the species Paramecium multimicronucleata. The published accounts of the morphology and cultural characteristics of the various forms are compared and provide additional evidence. A more complete description is given, including distinctive characters previously omitted. The conjugation process of P. multimicronucleata in general resembles that of P. caudatum, most of the differences being due to the presence of four micronuclei instead of one. These each divide twice with characteristic figures, twelve of the sixteen daughter nuclei then degenerating. One of the remaining four splits to form a single pair of functional pronuclei in each cell. The two migratory pronuclei interchange as in P. caudatum. The synkaryon divides three times, and probably seven of these nuclei degenerate. The remaining one apparently undergoes two divisions. In most cases by six to eight hours after the conjugants separate two micronuclei of the four thus produced form enlarged macronuclear anlagen, the other two remaining as micronuclei. Each anlage divides within the next two or four hours, producing four macronuclear and four micronuclear analagen. Two fissions, each preceded by a division of the micronuclei, restore vegetative conditions. The process described above is compared with conjugation in P. bursaria, P. caudatum, and P. putrinum.