Blepharisma propel themselves with short cilia that cover their entire bodies, as well as longer membranelles which line its bucal cavity or mouth. Membranelles are also used in food gathering. A large contractile vacuole, which enables the protozoa to eliminate excess water and keeps it from bursting, can be seen at its posterior end. Bleps have a pinkish color due to a pigment found in their bodies. Recorded under Nomarski DIC illumination with a horizontal field of view of approximately 600 microns.