INTRODUCTION

The ciliated protozoa have been recognized as a phylum, the Ciliophora, of the Kingdom Protista.They are also known as Ciliata, Infusoria and Animalicules in elder literature. They are characterized by the presence of hair-like organelles called cilia. Cilia occur in all members of this group of microorganisms (although the peculiar Suctoria only have them for part of the life cycle) and are variously used in swimming, crawling, attachment, feeding, and sensation.
Ciliates are common almost everywhere there is water — in lakes, ponds, oceans, rivers, and soils. There are over 10000 species of ciliates including free-living, symbiotic and parasitic forms described to date. Ciliates are large single cells, a few reaching 2 mm in length, and some are the most highly differentiated and specialized eukaryotes.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith