Tetrahymena are
ciliate protozoa, included in the order
Hymenostomatida. They are pear-shaped and 30-100 micrometers in size.
Tetrahymena species are quite common in aquatic habitats where they thrive at temperatures of 18-22 degrees Celsius. Because of their short generation time and because they can be grown to high cell density in inexpensive media, they are common subjects of scientific study.
List of different Tetrahymena species
- Tetrahymena hegewischi
- Tetrahymena hyperangularis
- Tetrahymena malaccensis
- Tetrahymena pigmentosa
- Tetrahymena pyriformis
- Tetrahymena thermophila