Any species of ciliated Infusoria belonging to the genus Stentor and allied genera, common in fresh water. The stentors have a bell-shaped, or cornucopia-like, body with a circle of cilia around the spiral terminal disk. See Illust. under Heterotricha.
Stentor are a group of filter feeders, a genus of ciliate protozoa, representative of the heterotrichs. The body is generally trumpet-shaped, hence the association with the Greek herald, with a ring of prominent membranelles around the anterior "bell" that sweep in food and aid in swimming. Stentor are common in freshwater lakes and streams, usually attached to algae and other detritus.