The ciliates are a group of alveolates characterized by the presence of hair-like organelles called cilia, which are identical in structure to eukaryotic flagella, but are in general shorter and present in much larger numbers, with a different undulating pattern than flagella. Cilia occur in all members of the group and are variously used in swimming, crawling, attachment, feeding, and sensation.
Ciliate
Ciliate undergoing the last processes of binary fission
Development of the Oxytricha macronuclear genome from micronuclear genome
Stentor roeselii
The alveolates are a group of protists, considered a major clade and superphylum within Eukarya. They are currently grouped with the stramenopiles and Rhizaria among the protists with tubulocristate mitochondria into the SAR supergroup.
Alveolate
Transmission electron micrograph of a thin section of the surface of the ciliate Paramecium putrinum, showing the alveoli (red arrows) under the cell surface
Paramecium caudatum (Ciliophora)
Vorticella (Ciliophora) (left)