Phacus acuminatus A.Stokes Algae of Chennai Wetland || Medavakkam Marshland Algae || Algal Flora of Wetlands

 Phacus acuminatus A.Stokes A freshwater Euglenophytes

Phacus acuminatus Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal

A general freshwater habitant... Belonging to euglenoids... Very common in lakes, ponds, streams, and other freshwater bodies... Need high light and nutrients for growth... This particular alga was growing in ph 7 at wetlands (Marshland) of Medavakkam, Chennai - 600100.

Collection site Marshland of Medavakkam, collection by Dr. K Maheshwari 

Sample Processing and slide Preparation by Miss. Vinaya Sukumar

Phacus acuminatus Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal

Species name originated from Latin Participle A (Latin), acuminate, i.e. tapering gradually or abruptly from inwardly curved sides into a narrow point (Stearn 1973).

Phacus acuminatus Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal

Cell body flat, anterior narrowed, posterior broadly rounded, with short blunt cauda, 30-40 μm long, 20-30 μm wide, cauda usually straight, but rarely slightly curved, dorsal furrow short and shallow, lateral margins broadly rounded or nearly straight, periplasts longitudinally striated, usually a single large paramylon body but sometimes accompanied with a second smaller one

Phacus acuminatus Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal

Classification:
Empire Eukaryota
Kingdom Protozoa
Subkingdom Eozoa
Infrakingdom Infrakingdom Euglenozoa
Phylum Euglenozoa
Infraphylum Dipilida
Class Euglenophyceae
Subclass Euglenophycidae
Order Euglenida
Family Phacidae
Genus Phacus

Phacus acuminatus Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal