Vorticellidae

Vorticellidae
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Clade: Diaphoretickes
Clade: Sar
Clade: Alveolata
Phylum: Ciliophora
Class: Oligohymenophorea
Order: Sessilida
Family: Vorticellidae
Ehrenberg, 1838

Vorticellidae is a family of ciliates belonging to the order Sessilida. They are colonial or unicellular organisms that are attached to a substrate via a stalk. The distinguishing characteristic of the family is a helical spasmoneme within the stalk that is contractile.

Members of this family are common in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial habitats around the world.