portrait

Description:

Entosiphon (ent-owe-siphon) heterotrophic euglenid, with a strongly developed ingestion organelle that is easy to see with the light microscope. With two flagella, the anterior one beats with a sweeping motion, the posterior or recurrent one trails under moving cells (and seems to be more important in the process of moving the cells around). Ingests bacteria and detritus. Not capable of metaboly, but the mouth (siphon) can make slight pumping movements. Common and widespread in freshwater habitats. Phase Contrast.