 Euglena
are protists, usually with chloroplasts, found in most nutrient laden fresh water. In this sample, euglena are
stained different colors. Even at 100x, they are tiny. They are oval or
cylinder-shaped with a single flagellum, but are not considered flagellates. One euglena in this slide
has a black dot, or stigma, on it. The stigma functions as an
eyespot.
 Wikipedia
provides an instructional diagram of an euglena. |
Biggest Euglena
The biggest euglena in the sample slide has a stigma. Even though this one is the largest, a
flagellum is not visible. It has been stained green and is
slightly white near its stigma.
| Image |
Data |
Description |
 |
400x
|
Under light
field lighting, basic internal texture is visible. |
 |
400x
|
Under possibly-improperly-used phase contrast, slighly
different details are visible, some internal organs and a more pronounced outer layer. |
|
Difference in Shape
There are several different shapes of euglena in the
sample slide: circular, oval, ellipse, and cylindrical.
| Image |
Data |
Description |
 |
400x
|
This view shows some stained a reddish hue. Some of these, the red, in particular, have more definitive "white spots" visible within. This shot also shows some of the variety of shapes available: round, oval, pear-ish. The green one in the lower right has a reasonably visible nucleus. |
 |
400x
|
Another long cylindrical
green one sporting a dark spot. A round red one is also visible clearly showing a darker spot on the top, most likely it's nucleus. |
|
Internal Organs
Some euglena show internal
organs. Even at 1000x with oil, these are not all that distinct or clear.
| Image |
Data |
Description |
 |
1000x
|
This red one, sporting, roughly, the shape of a wrapped Egyptian mummy clearly shows the internal white spots and its nucleus. It's a little bit reminiscent of the course ground texture of thurminger sausage. Just saying... |
 |
1000x
|
A different angle on another red one. This one reveals several white bubbles
that could be vacuoles. |
 |
1000x
|
This green euglena shows a distinct
structure toward the middle of its body, likely a nucleus. |
 |
1000x
|
Here he is again, but cropped and zoomed to show just the protist. I may be imagining things here, but does that look as if the nucleus is undergoing subdivision? |
|
|
Euglena
are protists, usually with chloroplasts, found in most nutrient laden fresh water. In this sample, euglena are
stained different colors. Even at 100x, they are tiny. They are oval or
cylinder-shaped with a single flagellum, but are not considered flagellates. One euglena in this slide
has a black dot, or stigma, on it. The stigma functions as an
eyespot.
