Jan 25, 2013

Euglenoids

These are small fresh water organisms. Based on molecular data, euglenoids are thought to be closely related to zooflagellates. They are plantlike in their pigments. One third of all genera have chloroplasts, the rest do not. Those which lack chloroplasts ingest or absorb their food. Euglenoids grown in the absence of light lose their chloroplasts and become heterotrophic. Pyrenoids produce carbohydrates.

Their chloroplasts are like green algae i.e. surrounded by three rather than two membranes. Euglenoids have two flagella, one of which is much longer and projects out of the anterior vase shaped invagination. Near the base of the flagellum is an eyespot. Body is covered by pellicle composed of protein strips so they can assume different shapes. As in certain protozoa there is a contractile vacuole. Euglenoids reproduce by longitudinal cell division and sexual division is not known.


                                         Euglenoids

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