Euglena anabaena var. minor Mainx 1927
(Syn. Euglena anabaena var. minima Zakrys 1986)
Note: This taxon has been treated differently by various authors. Mainx (1926/27) described three variants of E. anabaena: E. anabaena typ., E. anabaena var. minor, and E. anabaena var. minima. Pringsheim (1953) and Johnson (1944) acknowledge the three varieties of E. anabaena, however Zakrys (1986) asserts that E. anabaena var. minor and E. anabaena var. minima are synonymous. Pringsheim (1953) also concludes that E. anabaena is closely related to E. thinophila (Syn. E. thinophilla) based on measurements taken by Skuja (1939), and in fact may be considered as a synonym.
DIAGNOSIS:
Dimensions: 36-45 um X 16-22um
Shape: fusiform
Flagellum: approximately one-half of the body length
Swimming: active swimmer, moderately quick
Metaboly: moderately active metaboly when stationary (personal observation)
Pellicle: weakly spirally striated; allows slight metabolic movement
Chloroplasts: shield-shaped; 6-10 in number
Pyrenoids: capped with paramylon grains on both sides
Eyespot: prominent
Paramylon: caps pyrenoids; grains were not observed free in the cytoplasm
Notes:
Personal obsevations of E. anabaena var. minor (UTEX # 373) yielded dimensions of 27.5-30 um X 15-20 um. The complete range of dimesions for E. anabaena is 26-94 um X 9-25 um, according to measurements of all three varieties by Mainx.
E. thinophila has dimensions that are consistent with E. anabaena. According to Skuja, E. thinophila measures 60-65 um X 13-17um.
