portrait

Description:

Euglena (you-glean-a) is the iconic genus of euglenoid flagellates. The body is typically spindle-shaped, although two flagella arise in a pocket within the cell only one emerges (and sometimes none). The body can squirm, and the cell has one to many chloroplasts. At the anterior of the body, a thin channel (flagellar canal) leads to the flagellar pocket, and alongside this is a contractile vacuole. A red eyespot or stigma is associated with the bottom of the flagellar canal. Phase contrast.