To be quite honest, this one is a real borderline shot to be posted
here. If an "alt.binaries.pictures.plants" existed, posting it there
might have been just as adequate.

This organism is called euglena acus. As you can see from its green
colour, it contains a lot of chlorophyll. This is not because it eats
algae but because its carbon supply is based on photosynthesis just like
the one of a green plant.

But a green plant hasn't got eyes; this organism got one. The red stain
at the upper top consists of membrane-coated bubbles containing carotene
which act as a primitive light transmitter. Euglena uses this eye to
find the light needed for photosynthesis. In order to move there
actively, it has a small filament on its front end called flagellum
whose structure is similar to the one of a muscle (not visible in this
image).

I hope not to bore you too much with my explanations. The fun I have
watching the microfauna grew with any bit of information I got about the
organisms I watch. If you do not feel similar, just overread the text
and enjoy the pictures.

Kind regards,

Ralf


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