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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Ref ID : 4209

T. Suzaki and R.E. Williamson; Pellicular Ultrastructure and Euglenoid Movement in Euglena ehrenbergii Klebs and Euglena oxyuris Schmarda. J.Protozool. 33(2):165-171, 1986

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The pellicular ultrastructure of Euglena ehrenbergii and Euglena oxyuris is examined for differences that might account for their very different motile activity. Their general ultrastructure is closely similar, but the continuity between adjacent pellicular strips found in E. oxyuris would severely restrict strip sliding and contribute to this species' very limited cell-shape changes. The strips of E. ehrenbergii have plate-like projections, whose constant orientation is consistent with strips sliding without deforming obliquely on cell rounding. Some variations and constant features in pellicular ultrastructure are noted and discussed in regard to the sliding strip mechanism for euglenoid shape changes.