Look! Can you guess which kind of algae that looks like flat leaves in the picture is?

Yes, it is Phacus!

Phacus belongs to the genus Phacus of the family Euglenaceae, order Euglenales, class Euglenophyceae, and phylum Euglenophyta. Its body shape is stable and obviously flattened on the dorsal and ventral sides. The frontal view is often circular, oval or elliptical, and some are spirally twisted. The dorsal side is raised into a ridge, and the posterior end often extends into a thorn-like shape.

Phacus has a flagellum that extends the entire length of the body, enabling them to swim freely in water. Their chloroplasts are disc-shaped and have no pyrenoids; the assimilation products are paramylum, which are in the shapes of rings, discs, spheres and dumbbells.

Phacus is a type of unicellular protist and belongs to eukaryotes, mainly in the green color. This type of algae is widely distributed in freshwater environments around the world, including hundreds of discovered species.

Under the microscope, Phacus presents a unique beauty, and their morphology and structure are fascinating. Therefore, Phacus is often called the “Bright and Flat Spirit”, signifying that they shine with a unique light in the microscopic world.

Don’t look at this little water spirit. It is also a contributor to some aquatic organisms and contributes itself to the aquaculture industry. Its unique nutritional components can promote the growth and development of aquatic organisms and help farmers obtain better economic benefits. At the same time, Phacus also contains some potential medicinal value. Although research in this area is still in its infancy, the possibilities it shows make people full of expectations for its future, as if it is a treasure waiting to be fully unlocked.

Overall, Phacus is a very interesting algae. Their unique morphology and wide distribution make them of great significance in biological research and aquaculture.

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Note：This picture comes from www.bilibili.com/video/bv1aa411v7kd