Ciliate (Noun)
Meaning
A protozoan with a microscopic appendage extending from the surface of the cell.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The paramecium is a well-known example of a ciliate, with thousands of microscopic cilia covering its surface.
- Stentor is a genus of ciliates that are characterized by their trumpet-shaped bodies and rows of cilia.
- The movement of a ciliate through a fluid environment is facilitated by the coordinated beating of its cilia.
- Ciliates are an important component of aquatic ecosystems, serving as both predators and prey for other organisms.
- Some species of ciliates have been found to form symbiotic relationships with other organisms, such as algae or bacteria.