Question

Mention the characteristic features of Euglena in support of its inclusion in animal kingdom. Also mention the features which contradict its
placement?

Answer 1

Euglena:

1. Euglena is a protozoan belonging to the Protista kingdom.
2. It doesn't have a cell wall.
3. It has locomotory organelles called flagella.
4. As a result, its classification as an animal is justified.
5. It is classified as both a plant and an animal because it is autotrophic when sunlight is present but becomes heterotrophic when sunlight is absent.
6. In the presence of sunlight, they contain photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll and can prepare their own food.
7. However, in the absence of light, they behave similarly to heterotrophic organisms by capturing other small organisms.
8. They have both plant and animal-like features, which makes them difficult to classify, and hence they are called connecting links between plants and animals.