Description of Heterotrichea
provided by BioPedia
Postciliodesmatophoran ciliates, body form varies from compressed to conical, often elongate and contractile; somatic kineties, when present, as dikinetids, with overlapping postciliary microtubular ribbons; left serial oral polykinetids conspicuous, extending anteriorly to almost encircle anterior end; macronucleus divided by extra-macronuclear microtubules; some species are temporarily or permanently sessile.
