vorticella

Any of various ciliate protozoans of the genus Vorticella, having a bell-shaped body and living underwater on a slender stalk often attached to a plant or other object.

The typical genus of Vorticellidæ, having a retractile pedicel; the bellanimalcules.

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.

any of various protozoa having a transparent goblet-shaped body with a retractile stalk