Page 79 - Algae Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology

62 Algae: Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology

consist of a sheath about 240–300 nm in length, which represent the basic unit. The units, each
formed by loops, side arms and filaments, lie parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of
the flagellum (Figure 2.35); two groups of short hairs are arranged helically on each narrow side of
the flagellum, separated from each other by two membrane areas without hair attachments. In
Dinophyta, both the longitudinal and the transverse flagellum carry hairs, but unlike Eugleno-
phyta, the hairy coverings on the two flagella are different. The transverse flagellum carries uni-
lateral hairs except in the proximal part; they are 2–4 mm long and arranged in bundles, each
bundle consisting of differently sized hairs. In Oxyrrhis marina, hairs are of three different
lengths, the longest in the middle. Hairs on the longitudinal flagellum are shorter than those on
the transverse flagellum (0.4–0.75 mm), but similar in diameter (10 nm). Simple, non-tubular
hairs are present also in some Glaucophyta and Chlorophyta.

FIGURE 2.35 Short hairs of Euglena flagellum.