Euglena

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{{Taxobox | color = khaki | name = Euglenids | regnum = Protista | phylum = Euglenozoa | classis = Euglenoidea | ordo = Euglenales | genus = Euglena | genus_authority = Ehrenberg, 1830 }} Euglena is a common genus of flagellate protozoa, typical of the euglenids, and commonly found in nutrient-rich freshwater, with a few marine species. The cells vary in length from around 20 to 300 μm, and are typically cylindrical, oval, or spindle-shaped with a single emergent flagellum. There are usually many bright green chloroplasts, although some species are colorless. The name comes from the Greek words eus and glêne, or good eyeball, referring to the light-sensitive eyespot.

Over 100 species of Euglena have been described. Marin et al. (2003) revised the genus so that it forms a monophyletic group, moving several species with rigid pellicles to the genus Lepocinclis and including several species without chloroplasts, formerly classified as Astasia and Khawkinea.

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References

Marin B, Palm A, Klingberg M, Melkonian M (2003). Phylogeny and taxonomic revision of plastid-containing euglenophytes based on SSU rDNA sequence comparisons and synapomorphic signatures in the SSU rRNA secondary structure. Protist 154(1):99-145.

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