Amoeba? Copepods? DINOS? Nematode?

Mistyb421 · Sep 8, 2023

Ok guys. I was playing around with my microscope and found a few interesting things that I need help with. Most of all the dinos. I never could focus in on the smaller ones but they all had the same swim pattern. Are the moving ones visible, Ostreopsis? And is this amoeba and a copepod as well? I also saw a couple of nematodes. Yes I need help identifying but also just wanted to share because I think these are cool and what the heck do I do if I need to do anything at all? Thank you for any help!

Dan_P · Sep 9, 2023

Mistyb421 said:
Ok guys. I was playing around with my microscope and found a few interesting things that I need help with. Most of all the dinos. I never could focus in on the smaller ones but they all had the same swim pattern. Are the moving ones visible, Ostreopsis? And is this amoeba and a copepod as well? I also saw a couple of nematodes. Yes I need help identifying but also just wanted to share because I think these are cool and what the heck do I do if I need to do anything at all? Thank you for any help!

Just enjoy the strange creatures. Most things crawling around are useful

Mistyb421 · Sep 9, 2023

Dan_P said:
Just enjoy the strange creatures. Most things crawling around are useful

That is why I had my microscope out and was looking. Would to nice to know what I am looking at is why I asked.

Dan_P · Sep 9, 2023

Mistyb421 said:
That is why I had my microscope out and was looking. Would to nice to know what I am looking at is why I asked.

I understand.

Things with jointed legs and whiskers could be crustaceans, either adults or juveniles, like baby brine shrimp, that don’t look like the adult. The worm-like things could be nematodes. Flat worms might be planaria or flatworms. Worms with segments could be annelids, like earthworms. The jointed bristly catepillar-like things are likely bristle worms. When you sample around organic matter you will find many worm-like creatures.

Then there are odd looking stationary things that look like alien shapes. These could be colonial animals, single cell animals living in groups. Microscopic sponges look very Star Trek-like.

If you are serious about identifying things, knowing its size can be helpful. you can get an inexpensive microscope stage ruler (plastic or etched glass) to calibrate your photographs (photograph the ruler and convert a length on your picture to so many microns).

Enjoy!