Describe the body organization of ciliated protozoans.

(N/A) $\rightarrow$ They possess a cavity (gullet) that opens to the outside of the cell surface.
$\rightarrow$ The coordinated movement of rows of cilia causes water laden with food to be steered into the gullet.
$\rightarrow$ Many ciliates live as free-living individuals in fresh and marine water (e.g.,$Paramecium$).
$\rightarrow$ Nutrition is holozoic,except in some parasitic forms.
$\rightarrow$ The body is covered with a flexible pellicle.
$\rightarrow$ There are definite regions for ingestion (cytostome) and egestion (cytoproct).
$\rightarrow$ Ciliates possess a large macronucleus and a smaller micronucleus.
$\rightarrow$ They have small ejectable trichocysts for defense.
$\rightarrow$ Osmoregulation occurs via contractile vacuoles.