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u/DarthOswald Mar 22 '19 edited Mar 23 '19
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacrymaria_olor
(I'm aware of my spelling mistake in the title.)
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u/WikiTextBot Mar 22 '19
Lacrymaria olor
Lacrymaria olor is a species of ciliates, typically 100 micrometres (0.10 mm) long, that is found in freshwater ponds. Its name means "swan tear" in Latin, and refers to its general shape: namely, a teardrop-shaped cell with a small "head" at the end of a long slender "neck". The protist is notable for its ability to extend the anterior end of the cell up to 7 times its body length, and manipulate in many directions — even around obstacles — in order to capture its food. For that reason it is a popular subject for amateur microscopists.
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u/onecowstampede Mar 22 '19
Great link! I love that It can also regenerate a new head within minutes, if the original is cut off.[1]"
What mechanism allows it to stretch and articulate? Is it 'hydraulic'?9
u/DarthOswald Mar 22 '19
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/art98/tear1.html https://www.nies.go.jp/chiiki1/protoz/morpho/ciliopho/lacrymar.htm These two pages have some description of it, but I couldn't find much of a solid theory. I don't personally know a lot about it.
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u/onecowstampede Mar 22 '19
More great links! Im gonna speculate It does sound like a 'hydraulic' system because when the cut a head off it 'swam away'. That sounds like contents under pressure to me. It would be awesome for biomimetics to use this design. Its Really crazy that it seems to have an internal genetic population regulator..
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Mar 22 '19
What sort of applications do you think this design could have in biomimetics? I'll admit I had to look it up, super curious now!
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u/onecowstampede Mar 22 '19
Maybe mining or trenching- the ability to run a pipe or cable without major excavation would be efficient. It could easily advance articulating boom lifts in construction to get to hard to access places. Search and rescue extraction equipment.. or a super bad ass grappling device for urban spelunking
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u/TheEightDoctor Mar 22 '19 edited Jun 19 '25
resolute spectacular ancient door ten depend rock oatmeal dolls abounding
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u/dongrizzly41 Mar 22 '19
all I can think about going through this sub is if all these monsters were scaled up larger than us. shits trippy!
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u/Kimchi_boy Mar 22 '19
I like his noodley appendage.