Home / Euglenophyceae / Photosynthetic Euglenoids / Lepocinclis

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Name derivation:

 

 

Classification:

Lepocinclis  Perty  1849;  72 of 256 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2013).

Order Euglenales;  Family Phacaceae

Morphology:

Green flagellates with a rigid pellicle (protein wall), stips spiralling around cell are pronounced, circular in cross section, with a stigma (eyespot).  Chloroplasts are discoid without pyrenoids.  Some have two large paramylon rings lying opposite each other in the anterior part of the cell. A caudal (tail) spine is present in some species.

Similar genera:

Euglena and Phacus are somewhat or very flattened.

 

Habitat:

Mainly freshwater habitats, som species have been found in brackish water.  Widespread.

 

References:

Guiry, M.D. and G.M. Guiry  2013.  AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway.  http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 22 February 2013.