Aphagea

Serial images of the colorless euglenid flagellate, Astasia klebsii (Lemmermann, 1910) showing its characteristic euglenoid movement (metaboly). Specimen collected from a freshwater aquaculture pond near Boise, Idaho January 2004. DIC optics.

Astasia lagenula (Schewiakoff) Lemmermann. Astasia, cells oblong, wider and rounded posteriorly, 25-30 microns long, 10 microns broadly. Flagellum almost cell length. Nucleus more or less central. Looks like Jenningsia fusiforme.

Astasia curta Skuja, 1956. Astasia cells that are metabolic, 30-38 microns long, 12-14 microns wide, with somewhat pointed (or truncated) anterior end pointed posterior end . Flagellum about cell length. Nucleus in posterior part. Paramylon granules throughout the cell.

Cyclidiopsis (sigh-clid-ee-op-sis) is a colourless heterotrophic euglenid, but is unusual in that it has an eyespot seen just below the vacuole-like reservoir. The refractile elements inside the cell are polysaccharide storage granules (paramylon) Elongate, anterior slightly trumpet-like with one emergent flagellum. Not often encountered. Differential interference contrast.

Cyclidiopsis (sigh-clid-ee-op-sis) is a colourless heterotrophic euglenid, but is unusual in that it has an eyespot. Elongate, anterior slightly trumpet-like with one emergent flagellum. Not often encountered. This is a dividing cell. Phase contrast.

Cyclidiopsis (sigh-clid-ee-op-sis) is a colourless heterotrophic euglenid, but is unusual in that it has an eyespot. Elongate, anterior slightly trumpet-like with one emergent flagellum. This image is to show the beat pattern of the flagellum. Not often encountered. Phase contrast.

Cyclidiopsis (sigh-clid-ee-op-sis) is a colourless heterotrophic euglenid, but is unusual in that it has an eyespot. Elongate, anterior slightly trumpet-like with one emergent flagellum. Not often encountered. This cell has just been eaten by a ciliate. Phase contrast.

Rhabdomonas, a swimming colourless euglenid. One flagellum emerges from near the anterior apex of the cell and beats in a figure-of-eight pattern. Surface with slightly spiralling ridges. Differential interference contrast optics.

Rhabdomonas, a swimming colourless euglenid. One flagellum emerges from near the anterior apex of the cell and beats in a figure-of-eight pattern. Surface with slightly spiralling ridges. Phase contrast.

Rhabdomonas spiralis (PRINGSHEIM,1942).Collected from a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho.July 2007. DIC.

Portrait of Menoidium a colorless euglenoid flagellate. Strongly flattened. One side curved with the other more straight. One emergent flagellum. Stigma absent. Paramylon bodies are dimorphic with smaller round and larger elongate ring forms. Swims rotating on long axis. Highly refractile. From standing freshwater near Boise, Idaho. Brightfield.

Portrait of Menoidium a colorless euglenoid flagellate. Strongly flattened. One side curved with the other more straight. One emergent flagellum. Stigma absent. Paramylon bodies are dimorphic with smaller round and larger elongate ring forms. Swims rotating on long axis. From standing freshwater near Boise, Idaho. Phase contrast.

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

Menoidium pellucidum. Empty pellicle observed in freshwater habitats in the vicinity of Broome, Western Australia in September 2003.  This work was supported by the Australian Biological Resources Study.

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

Sphenomonas quadrangularis Stein, 1878. Biflagellated, gliding euglenid, rigid, 17 - 30 microns (average 23.0 microns) long and 8 - 15 microns (average 11.5 microns) wide. Cell shape ellipsoid, anterior end of cell pointed, apically slightly oblique, posterior end of cell broadly rounded. Pellicle hyaline with 4 longitudinal strongly developed keels, each containing a series of small paramylon grains. In cruciate the cell shape looks square with concave sides and roundish angles. The anterior flagellum is about one or one and a half of the cell length and the recurrent flagellum about one quarter to one thirth of the cell length. The centre of cell always contains a large hyaline inclusion. The reservoir is situated in mid-line in the first quarter of the cell with an associated contractile vacuole.

Portrait of the colorless euglenid flagellate, Sphenomonas quadrangularis (Playfair, 1921).DIC.

Portrait of the colorless euglenid flagellate, Sphenomonas quadrangularis (Playfair, 1921).DIC.

Portrait of the colorless euglenid flagellate, Sphenomonas quadrangularis (Playfair, 1921).DIC.

Sphenomonas (sfeen-owe-moan-ass) angusta Skuja, 1956. Cells are 10 to 14 microns long, 4 to 7 microns wide, not flattened and with a dorsal groove. The cells are anteriorly obliquely truncated and posteriorly rounded. The cell bodies are slightly curved: the right margin of the cell is straighter than the left one. With two flagella, unequal in length, emerging from a relatively large flagellar pocket located in the right anterior end of the cell. The anterior flagellum is about 1.5 times cell length and its proximal part moves actively, the trailing posterior flagellum is less than 0.5 times the cell length. One large refractile inclusion often occupies the posterior part of the cell. Commonly observed.

Sphenomonas angusta Skuja, 1956. Cells are 10 to 14 microns long, 4 to 7 microns wide, not flattened and with a dorsal groove. The cells are anteriorly obliquely truncated and posteriorly rounded. The cell bodies are slightly curved: the right margin of the cell is straighter than the left one. With two flagella, unequal in length, emerging from a relatively large flagellar pocket located in the right anterior end of the cell. The anterior flagellum is about 1.5 times cell length and its proximal part moves actively, the trailing posterior flagellum is less than 0.5 times the cell length. One large refractile inclusion often occupies the posterior part of the cell.