The Epistylis belongs to the Phyllum Ciliophora. They are from 200-250µm long and colonies can reach up to 2mm long.

They are a stalked ciliate which looks similar to the Vorticella and Carchesium. They are different, however, in that the stalk does not have a myoneme which is the spring like contracting element. The Epistylis therefore cannot contract like the Vorticella and Carchesium.