euglena

eu·gle·na  (y-gln)

n.

Any of various minute single-celled freshwater organisms of the genus Euglena, characterized by the presence of chlorophyll, a reddish eyespot, and a single anterior flagellum.

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[New Latin : Greek eu-, eu- + Greek gln, eyeball.]

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euglena  (y-gln) Any of various unicellular protist organisms of the genus Euglena that live in fresh water, have a cylindrical or sausage-like shape, and move by means of a flagellum. Euglenas contain chloroplasts and can produce their own food by photosynthesis. They can also absorb nutrients directly into the cell from the environment. Euglenas have no rigid covering or cell wall, such as the cellulose cell walls of green algae or plants, over the membrane enclosing the plasma of their cells. They also have a reddish, light-sensitive eyespot which helps them navigate in relation to light sources. In warm weather, euglenas multiply rapidly and form scum on the surfaces of bodies of water.

euglena

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

euglena - minute single-celled green freshwater organism having a single flagella; often classed as algae protozoan, protozoon - any of diverse minute acellular or unicellular organisms usually nonphotosynthetic genus Euglena - type genus of the family Euglenaceae: green algae with a single flagellum