Euglena Info

DIVISION :EUGLENOPHYTA or the EUGLENOIDS

Euglenoids are unicellular organisms whose classification as plants or animals can be debated equally either way. They exhibit both plant and animal characteristics.

They are not related to any algae, but because they occupy the same kinds of habitats as algae and are of comparable simplicity, they are included in this study of algae. Zoologists include them in studies of single-celled animals known as protozoa.

General facts about euglenoids are

Pigments: Green; a few are colorless - chl a + b and carotenoids - possession of pigmentation is dependent on whether they are exposed to light or not.

Habitat: Marine & Fresh water

Body types: Single cell

Cell wall: none- bound by a flexible pellicle.The changes in cell shape are possible because the protoplast is bounded by a flexible periplast or PELLICLE. This is a plasma memebrane that has extra inner layers of proteins and a grainy outer surface.


Motility: movement created by one- long tinsel flagella.

Some euglenoids are thought to ingest food into the gullet. Note that the cell is elongate with a pointed end and a blunt end. The blunt end is the leading end of the cell that is propelled through the water by the flagellum.

A light-sensitive, pigmented body, called the EYESPOT, is near the blunt end.

Value: A food source for fish and other aquatic animals. 


From http://www.bio.villanova.edu/DEPART/EM/euglena.htm