Morphological Redesription of A Freshwater Ciliate Paramoecium Caudatum (Ciliophora: Oligohymenophorea) From Saradwadi Dam

Abstract: 

Total 35 water samples were collected from Saradwadi dam, located near Sinnar, Nashik district, Maharashtra, India. Samples were collected for the period from December 2021 to April 2022. During the present investigation a free-living freshwater ciliate Paramoecium caudatum was found and identified morphologically. Shape and size of the organism, shape, size and position of the macronucleus and micronucleus, contractile vacuoles, ciliary structures were considered for the identification of the species. Present species compared with the previously described species of the genus Paramoecium redescribed here. Month wise prevalence was also recorded.