| Dileptus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Dileptus sp. | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Diaphoretickes |
| Clade: | SAR |
| Clade: | Alveolata |
| Phylum: | Ciliophora |
| Class: | Litostomatea |
| Order: | Dileptida |
| Family: | Dileptidae |
| Genus: | Dileptus Dujardin, 1841 |
Dileptus is a genus of unicellular ciliates in the class Litostomatea. Species of Dileptus occur in fresh and salt water, as well as mosses and soils. Most are aggressive predators equipped with long, mobile proboscides lined with toxic extrusomes, with which they stun smaller organisms before consuming them.[1] Thirteen species and subspecies of Dileptus are currently recognized.[2]
Dileptus species have served as model organisms used in the study of ciliary patterns, ontogenesis, conjugation and food acquisition.[3]
- ^ Miller, Stephen (May 1968). "The Predatory Behavior of Dileptus Anser". Journal of Protozoology. 15 (2): 313–19. doi:10.1111/j.1550-7408.1968.tb02128.x.
- ^ Vďačný, Peter, and Wilhelm Foissner. Monograph of the dileptids (Protista, Ciliophora, Rhynchostomatia). Land Oberösterreich, Biologiezentrum/Oberösterreichische Landesmuseen, 2012
- ^ Vd'ačný, Peter; et al. (June 2011). "Morphological and molecular phylogeny of dileptid and tracheliid ciliates: Resolution at the base of the class Litostomatea (Ciliophora, Rhynchostomatia)". European Journal of Protistology. 47 (4): 295–313. doi:10.1016/j.ejop.2011.04.006. PMC 3234341. PMID 21641780.