Showing posts with label euglenophytes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label euglenophytes. Show all posts

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.

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


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