Euglenoids are single cellular organisms with euglena like features. They do not have cell wall but do possess pellicle. They have flagella and occur in fresh water. They have specific euglenoid movements which are creeping movements followed by contraction and expansion of the body. They have mixotrophic type of nutrition which includes holophytic and saprobic type. Pellicle has projections referred as myonemes. Pellicle is made up of protein, lipid and carbohydrate. It permits changes in the body shape. They have two flagella’s; both of them originate from basal granule referred as Blepharoplast. At the union of flagella there is a swelling known as paraflagellar body. A red spot is present which is attached near to the paraflagellar body and is referred as eye spot. It also contains red pigment. Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll a and b. A contractile vacuole is also present. They have a large nucleus. They store their food as carbohydrate such as paramylum bodies. They are scattered in the cytoplasm.
Asexual method of reproduction has been proven. Longitudinal binary fission is the preferred method. They hibernate during unfavorable periods.
Euglena is spindle like organism. It is free living unicellular organism. It has mixotrophic mode of nutrition. It resides in fresh water. Their features resemble that of Euglenoids. It includes asexual mode of reproduction, presence of contractile vacuole, creeping movements, and paraflagellar body and eye spot.
