| Discoplastis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Discoba |
| Phylum: | Euglenozoa |
| Class: | Euglenida |
| Clade: | Euglenophyceae |
| Order: | Euglenales |
| Family: | Phacaceae |
| Genus: | Discoplastis R.E.Triemer, 2006 |
| Type species | |
| Discoplastis spathirhyncha (Skuja) Triemer [1] | |
| Species | |
| |
Discoplastis is a genus of euglenoid algae belonging to the family Phacaceae. [2] The species of this genus are found in Europe, Northern America, Southeastern Asia and Australia. [2]
Discoplastis consists of solitary, free-living cells with one emergent flagellum. The cells have a flexible, spirally striated pellicle and are therefore capable of metaboly. When swimming, the cells are a variety of different but characteristic shapes (cylindrical, fusiform, hourglass-shaped, etc.). The posterior of the cell ends in a pointed, colorless cell. Within each cell there are numerous small, discoid chloroplast lacking pyrenoids. Cells have paramylon grains; the paramylon grains may be monomorphic (all small) or dimorphic (some large, some small). [3] As with other euglenoids, the cell has a reddish eyespot (stigma). [4]
Discoplastis can be distinguished by to the combination of small, discoid parietal chloroplasts without pyrenoids (a synapomorphy for the family Phacaceae), and its flexibility. [5] The similar genus Flexiglena is even more flexible, displaying metabolic movement even when swimming. It is also distinguished by having a large paramylon grain directly adjacent to the stigma. [3]
Molecular phylogenetics suggest the following relationships between species: [3]
