Question

What are animal features of euglena?

Answer 1

Answer
Euglena are characterized by an elongated cell (15–500 micrometres [1 micrometre = 10−6 metre], or 0.0006–0.02 inch) with one nucleus, numerous chlorophyll-containing chloroplasts (cell organelles that are the site of photosynthesis), a contractile vacuole (organelle that regulates the cytoplasm), an eyespot, and one or two flagella. Certain species (e.g., E. rubra) appear red in sunlight because they contain a large amount of carotenoid pigments. Unlike plant cells, Euglena lack a rigid cellulose wall and have a flexible pellicle (envelope) that allows them to change shape. Though they are photosynthetic, most species can also feed heterotrophically (on other organisms) and absorb food directly through the cell surface via phagocytosis (in which the cell membrane entraps food particles in a vacuole for digestion). Food is often stored as a specialized complex carbohydrate known as paramylon, which enables the organisms to survive in low-light conditions. Euglena reproduce asexually by means of longitudinal cell division, in which they divide down their length, and several species produce dormant cysts that can withstand drying.

Euglena
Euglena
Euglena anatomy.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Some species, especially E. viridis and E. sanguinea, can develop large toxic populations of green or red “blooms” in ponds or lakes with high nitrogen content. E. gracilis is common in laboratory demonstrations, and a number of species are used to study cell growth and metabolism in various environmental conditions.

toxic Euglena bloom
toxic Euglena bloom
Toxic bloom caused by Euglena, a photosynthetic protist.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello, Assistant Editor.
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