Euglena mutabilis

Puerto Montt, Los Lagos, Chile

Puerto Montt, Los Lagos, Chile

Puerto Montt, Los Lagos, Chile

Ribadelago, Castille and Leon, Spain

Los Cotos, Madrid, Spain

Ribadelago de Franco, Castilla y Len, Espaa

Euglena mutabilis (you-glean-a mew-tab-ill-iss) is one of the worm-like species of Euglena. Typically there is no emergent flagellum or a very short one. Yet, the organism can be distinguished as a euglenid because of the bright green plastids, the eyespot that lies external to any plastid, and because the cells can squirm. The plastids are large-ish plate like structure which wrap themselves around the cell adjacent to the pellicle. The margins of individual plastids are hard to distinguish in this micrograph. Differential interference contrast.

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 - about four can be clearly made out in this cell. The image also shows (from anterior - top): stigma or eyespot, flagellar pocket, and nucleus in the middle of the cell. Typically very metabolic - squirming a lot. Differential interference contrast.

Euglena mutabilis is a worm like gliding Euglena which rarely swims. Sizes vary from 53-206 microns long, with 10 or more (up to 100), disk-shaped, plastids situated just below surface. It is distinguished from another worm like species (E. mutabilis) by the much larger number of plastids. The cells contain small rod and oval-shaped paramylon bodies scattered throughout the cytoplasm. Anterior flagellum usually about a quarter of the cell length, but may not be emergent, or be a short stump, or up to 0.5 the cell length. There are two flagella inserting in the flagellar pocket which can be seen behind the red stigma or eyespot. May produce cysts. The large tapioca-like nucleus is located just behind the mid line. Surface striations not visible. Metabolic (can squirm). Differential, interference contrast.

Euglena mutabilis is a worm like gliding Euglena which rarely swims. With more than 10 (up to 100), disk-shaped, plastids situated just below surface. It is distinguished from another worm like species (E. mutabilis) by the much larger number of plastids. Plastids are disc shaped. Also evident at the front of the cell is the emergent flagellum, the flagellar canal, the stigma, and flagellar pocket. Differential interference contrast.

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 also shows (from anterior - top): flagellar pocket, stigma or eyespot, small paramylon granules, and nucleus in the middle of the cell. Typically very metabolic - squirming a lot as is suggested by the different profiles in this image. Phase contrast.

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 also shows (from anterior - top): flagellar pocket, stigma or eyespot, small paramylon granules, and nucleus in the middle of the cell. Typically very metabolic - squirming a lot. Differential interference contrast.

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.

Euglena mutabilis. Cell observed in freshwater habitats in the vicinity of Broome, Western Australia in September 2003. This image was taken using differential interference contrast optics.   This work was supported by the Australian Biological Resources Study.

Euglena mutabilis. Cell observed in freshwater habitats in the vicinity of Broome, Western Australia in September 2003. This image was taken using differential interference contrast optics.   This work was supported by the Australian Biological Resources Study.

Euglena mutabilis. Cell observed in freshwater habitats in the vicinity of Broome, Western Australia in September 2003. This image was taken using differential interference contrast optics.   This work was supported by the Australian Biological Resources Study.

Two cells of this worm-like species of euglena. These cells have no emerging flagella, and they move by squirming and gliding. The cell contains numerous chloroplasts, and these provide the cell with their green colour. The red dots are the eye-spots.