Vorticella

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.