Stentors and Their Cilia

Most notable part of a stentor is the “crown” of cilia surrounding the trumpet “bell”. Cilia (singular: cilium) are the fine, hair-like structure. A group of cilia can wave back and forth in a coordinated way to create a current or vortex that pulls food closer. Adjacent to the oral opening, the fusion of several cilia to form "super cilia" or membranelles. These giant cilia form a spiral that leads into a small buccal cavity which in turn leads to a cytostome (like its mouth) where food is ingested. Every little while, the stentor will close up the cilia crown and contact, bringing the food down into the tubular cytostome.