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''Blepharisma'' is a genus of unicellular ciliate protists found in fresh and salt water. The group includes about 40 accepted species, and many sub-varieties and strains. While species vary considerably in size and shape, most are easily identified by their red or pinkish color, which is caused by granules of the pigment Blepharismin. All members of the genus possess a long series of membranelles on the left side of the oral groove, and an "undulating membrane" (a structure resembling a flap, scarf or small sail, composed of long cilia fused together as a single sheet) on the right side of the peristome, toward the posterior. Certain species of ''Blepharisma'' have served as model organisms for scientific research. Since some varieties are easily cultured and readily available from scientific supply houses, they are a common object of study in school science classes. ==Appearance== ''Blepharisma'' may be as small as 50 micrometres in length, or as large as 1 mm (though normal size range is between 75 and 300 micrometres).〔 Body shape varies, within the genus. The type species of the genus, ''B. persicinum,'' is ellipsoidal. ''Blepharisma lateritium'' is teardrop-shaped, with a rounded posterior; while ''Blepharisma elongatum'' and ''Blepharisma sphagni'' are long and thin, tapering at the posterior into a tail-like point. All species are uniformly ciliated, with the cilia arranged in longitudinal rows, and stripes of pigment alternating between rows of cilia. The pink or red pigmentation may be quite pale, and in certain cases it is absent altogether. A contractile vacuole, often quite large, is located in the posterior. The Macronuclei can take a variety of forms. Depending on species and phase of life, they may be rod-shaped, ovoid, spherical, or moniliform (like a rosary, or string of beads). 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Blepharisma」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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