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Cannibalism in Frontonia leucas Ehr.
Author(s) -
DEVI R. VIMALA
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1964.tb01758.x
Subject(s) - macronucleus , cannibalism , ingestion , digestion (alchemy) , vacuole , cytoplasm , biology , zoology , predation , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , ecology , biochemistry , ciliate , chromatography
SYNOPSIS. Starvation apparently does not induce cannibalism in F. leucas , but the occurrence of infirm, cytolized and helpless individuals in a dish of normal ones seems to afford an opportunity for it. Ingestion of the victim as well as the process of its digestion in the food vacuole of the cannibal is described. The highest number found ingested by a single cannibal is three. Cytoplasm and the micronuclei are digested before the macronucleus. Part of the macronucleus is present in the food vacuole of the cannibal even 16 hours after ingestion of the prey. By 24 hours, digestion is complete. The deoxyribonucleic acid of the macronucleus undergoes some specifiable change in its constitution towards the latter part of its digestion. Cannibalism does not lead to giant formation.