Platycola is a single-cell freshwater ciliate with a trumpet-shaped, slender body. It lives inside a lorica, a shell-like protective sleeve, and emerges to feed.

Platycola attaches inside the lorica at its rear. The lorica attaches to algae horizontally, along its length.

When startled, the Platycola instantly retracts into its lorica. As it reemerges, the organism angles upward.