WHAT PERITRICHS HAVE TAUGHT US

SYNOPSIS. The peritrichs have taught naturalists, biologists, zoologists, and other kinds of scientists many of their secrets. Consequently, we know many details regarding their gross structure, ultrastructure, ecology, and life history. Their sexual phenomena are rather clearly understood. While general agreement has been attained as regards the forementioned topics, the taxonomic position of peritrichs is still vigorously debated. In this address representative examples of advances in our knowledge of peritrichs will be reviewed … representative instead of all‐inclusive examples. A plea for the restoration of peritrichs to a taxonomic position above spirotrichs will be made. The Society's members will be assured that all protozoologists will have the opportunity to help design a completely International Commission on Protozoology in the International Union of Biological Sciences and they will be assured that such a Commission can and should be planned at the 1969 International Conference in Leningrad. Copyright © 1969, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved