Lepocinclis acus (O.F.Müller) B.Marin & Melkonian | Algae of Chennai Wetland || Medavakkam Marshland Algae || Algal Flora of Wetlands | Euglenophytes

 Lepocinclis acus (O.F.Müller) B.Marin & Melkonian .

A euglenoid alga which is previously known as Euglena acus... Euglenoids are a diverse group of unicellular, asexual microalgae that most commonly have two flagella, one or both may be emergent. Many are heterotrophic and others are photosynthetic, having acquired a chloroplast via secondary endosymbiosis of a eukaryotic green alga. One of its principal characteristics is the pellicle. Another particular feature of euglenoids is the presence of paramylon grains, distributed in the cell cytoplasm, as storage carbohydrates or energy reserves. They show great variety in shapes and numbers within the different species.

General freshwater habitant.

This alga usually found in various freshwater habitats like Rivers, lakes, ditches, ponds, swamps, sinkholes, wetlands, village ponds, fishpond, and brackish-water
Can find it in eutrophicated water bodies also... This particular specimen was found in clear freshwater whose pH was neutral (7). Motile euglenoid with flagella.

    Most cells were elongated spindles. A few ridged cells were present in many populations and these appeared to conform with L. acus. Most cells contained numerous rod-shaped paramylon grains. In some cells, these were concentrated in two regions, in a few specimens surrounding a dense accumulation of orange-colored droplets. 

The alga was collected by Dr. K. Maheswari and analyzed along with Miss. Vinaya Sukumar. Identification confirmed by Euglenophyte taxonomist Mrs. M. Megala.