Salpingoeca Appearance Salpingoeca cells appear as sessile, thecate trophic cells and naked, free-swimming or creeping zoospores. The anterior end of the cell shows a single flagellum and a ring of tentacles. Under most light microscopes, the tentacle ring appears as a solid collar around the flagellum. In disturbed cells, both the flagellum and the collar may be shed or retracted.
Zoospores are similar to the sessile cells but are naked.
During settlement, zoospores may produce fine pseudopodia at the posterior end of the cell, by which the cell slowly creeps to the position at which it will secrete its theca and become sessile.