Home / Euglenophyceae / Photosynthetic Euglenoids / Eutreptia
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Name derivation:
"True changer" -- True Eu- changer -treptos
Classification:
Eutreptia Perty 1852; 8 of 9 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2013). Order Eutreptiales; Family Eutreptiaceae
Morphology:
Biflagellate photosynthetic unicell, with numerous ribbon-shaped chloroplasts. An eyespot is present (Guiry and Guiry 2013). Flexible wall enables metaboly (change in shape as a second mechanism of locomotion)(Leedale 1967). Cells are covered by a pellicle similar in appearance to a striated envelope (Arroyo & DeSimone 2014)
Evolution:
Eutreptia is considered to be a basal lineage of the phototrophic clade (Hrda et al. 2012) Wiegert et al. (2012) mapped the chloroplast genome of a basal species in the lineage of photosynthetic euglenoids, Eutreptia viridis, and compared it to that of a crown species, Euglena gracilis. Results indicated that there was only one event in which the euglenoid chloroplast became established. A greater similarity between the genome of Eutreptia viridis and of the ancestral euglenoids chloroplast as opposed to Euglena gracilis was supported. Chloroplast genes from Pyramimonas parkeae were more similar to genes in Eutreptia viridis, supporting thoughts that an ancestral species similar to Pyramimonas was most likely the donor of the chloroplast to euglenoids.
Similar genera:
Habitat:
Typically found in brackish and marine environment, where it sometimes forms blooms.
References:
Arroyo, M. & A. DeSimone. 2014. Shape Control of Active Surfaces Inspired by the Movement of Euglenids. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids. 62: 99-112. Graham, L. and Wilcox, L. 2000. Algae. Prentice-Hall Guiry, M.D. and G.M. Guiry 2013. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 30 April 2013. Hrda, S., J. Fousek, J. Szabova, V. Hampl, & C. Vlcek. 2012. The Plastid Genome of Eutreptiella Provides a Window into the Process of Secondary Endosymbiosis of Plastid in Euglenids. PLoS ONE. 7 (3): e33746. Jaeger, E. C. 1944. A source-book of biological names and terms. Charles C. Thomas, publisher Leedale G. F. 1967. Euglenoid flagellates. Prentice-Hall Wiegert, K.E., M.S. Bennett, & R.E. Triemer. 2012. Evolution of Chloroplast Genome in Photosynthetic Euglenoids: A Comparison of Eutrepita viridis and Euglena gracilis (Euglenophyta). Protist. 163: 832-843.