This simultaneous discharge of its artillery is not a salute but allows Paramecium to ward off the predator possibly by uprooting the cilia on the proboscis and by pushing Dileptus away. The rapid firing of trichocysts synchronously propels Paramecium away from danger. Needless to say, the faster the reaction, the less chance Paramecium has of being eaten. Astonishingly, there is no attack when Dileptus simply brushes past Paramecium. Trichocysts are only launched once Dileptus' tentacle has made firm contact with its opponent.
Battle can be laborious.
Indeed, one discharge of trichocysts may not be sufficient to ward off a predator. With an additional proboscis prod, Paramecium sends off yet another batch of missiles. And if Dileptus continues to attack fiercely and unrelentingly at the same spot, Paramecium simply disintegrates, which must surely be a disagreeable metamorphosis to go through. Paramecium cannot frighten off all predators. It is the same with humans, comments Peck, take any weapon, it can be offensive for some yet harmless to others.