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Description:

Anisonema (a-nice-o-neme-a) is one of the gliding heterotrophic euglenids, common. It has a distinctive pattern of movement, moving forwards with one thicker flagellum trailing and the other flagellum extending in front and sweeping from side to side in front of the cell, and then periodically jerking backwards. This movement is associated with the strong recurrent flagellum which, as it leaves the cell, follows a curve or hook. The genus is defined in part by not having a mouth that is visible by light microscopy, but this cell has clearly been eating diatoms. Differential Interference Contrast.