Look for Vorticella in pond water samples, on the walls of aquariums, in water dishes of dogs, and just about all other aquatic habitats. Mitochondria are often difficult to see in living cells. Examine Vorticella 's clear stalk under high magnification to see them in abundance. The colonial-stalked ciliate with the specialized reproductive individual is Systylis , a beautiful study in adaptation to life in temporary pools. Stalked ciliated are very common.
Stentor is one of the largest cells.
In fission, the feeding apparatus develops first, then gradually a new cell is defined and pulls free. Although it is one of the most common ciliates, few biologists have ever seen the strange springing behavior of Halteria put to use. Halteria 's spring-like whiskers prevent its capture by a stentor. Spatheidium and Bursaria both hunt by swimming mouth first, inhaling prey. Ten Common Ciliates to Identify 1.