Here's a breakdown of how they move:
* Cilia: Opalinas have numerous cilia covering their entire body surface. These cilia are coordinated and beat in a wave-like motion, propelling the organism through its watery environment.
* Forward movement: The coordinated beating of cilia creates a force that pushes the opalina forward.
* Turning: Opalinas can also change direction by altering the pattern of cilia beating. They can move in a spiral, rotate, or even change the direction of their movement.
Important to note: Opalinas are not flagellates, which use whip-like structures called flagella for movement.