Living BeingsCompare species
Euglena gracilis
Euglena gracilis
African Baobab
Adansonia digitata
Evidence from the profiles
Compare their characteristics
| Trait | Euglena gracilis | African Baobab |
|---|---|---|
| Physical traits | Elongated cells have a flexible covering, chloroplasts and a flagellum used in movement. The outline can change during characteristic euglenoid motion. | Thick, fibrous bark surrounds a broad trunk. Each compound leaf has several leaflets radiating from a central point. |
| Habitat and range | Freshwater and resource-rich aquatic conditions support studied populations and cultures. | A terrestrial tree of tropical Africa, it is adapted to seasonally dry conditions and is also planted in gardens and settlements. |
| Diet and nutrition | Photosynthesis supplies carbon under suitable light, while organic substrates can support heterotrophic growth under other conditions. | Leaves produce sugars through photosynthesis. Water and mineral nutrients are taken up through the roots. |
| Behavior and activity | Light-responsive movement and changes in body form connect environmental sensing with locomotion. | Data unavailable |
| Reproduction and life cycle | Cells reproduce through division. Growth form and physiology change with culture conditions without representing separate species. | Large, hanging white flowers develop into capsules containing seeds embedded in pale, powdery pulp. New trees can be grown from seed. |
| Geographic distribution | Cultures are studied internationally. Field records require species identification rather than recognition of a generic green flagellate. | Native to Africa and cultivated elsewhere. The accompanying photograph shows a planted specimen in Madagascar; that location should not be confused with the native range of every baobab species. |
| Ecological role | Its flexible resource use connects photosynthetic production with consumption of organic compounds. | Its flowers, fruit and extensive woody structure provide biological resources. The familiar name baobab also applies to other species, which should not be confused with this one. |
| Distinctive adaptations | Its plastids descend from a green alga acquired through secondary endosymbiosis. A mixotrophic lifestyle and metabolic flexibility permit growth under varied conditions. Those features make it an informative example of eukaryotic evolution: photosynthesis does not require that a single-celled organism be placed among land plants. | A substantial trunk and drought-resistant growth form help distinguish this tree from many humid-forest trees. |
Classification
Shared ancestry
Closest shared taxon: Eukaryota.