Vor`ti*cel"la (?), n.; pl. E.
Vorticellas (&?;), L. Vorticellæ
(&?;). [NL., dim. fr. L. vortex. See Vortex.]
(Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of ciliated Infusoria
belonging to Vorticella and many other genera of the family
Vorticellidæ. They have a more or less bell-shaped body with
a circle of vibrating cilia around the oral disk. Most of the species have
slender, contractile stems, either simple or branched.
Vor`ti*cel"la (?), n.; pl. E.
Vorticellas (&?;), L. Vorticellæ
(&?;). [NL., dim. fr. L. vortex. See Vortex.]
(Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of ciliated Infusoria
belonging to Vorticella and many other genera of the family
Vorticellidæ. They have a more or less bell-shaped body with
a circle of vibrating cilia around the oral disk. Most of the species have
slender, contractile stems, either simple or branched.