palmella

Description:

Euglena mutabilis (you-glean-a mew-tab-ill-iss), is a moderately long but usually thin worm-like euglena. It may or may not have an emerging flagellum, and distinguished from similarly-shaped species by the relatively small number of large chloroplasts. The image shows the palmelloid mass that can be formed under some circumstances. Many hundred or thousands of cells form a skin, or film or mass in which the individual cells are embedded in a common matrix. Cells will become more active and work their way out of the mass when they are disturbed. Phase contrast.