Vorticella is a single cell ciliate possessing a stalk and is from a group of protozoans called peritrichs. They’re among the first unicellular animals that were observed by humans through a microscope. Peritrichs are very abundant and present all around the globe, making them really easy to find and observe if you’ve got a microscope! Their stalk has the ability to retract like a spring in a matter of of 10-20 mm per second and becomes 20% to 40% shorter as their bell becomes spherical! The bell part of Vorticella can reach a speed up to 60-90 mm per second which is corresponding to 1200 body length per second and makes them one the fastest living microorganisms!