The whole group ofEuglenozoa was originally placed in a group calledExcavata. However, Excavata has been thought notmonophyletic and is divided into several groups. Now, Euglenozoa is placed below a group in Discoba.[4]
Euglena viridis is one of the firstEuglena species whenEhrenberg established thegenusEuglena.[2]Euglena viridis is also thetype species of this genus.[5]
Morphologically,Euglena viridis can be distinguished from otherEuglena species by its one axial, stellate chloroplast with aparamylon center in it. But there are still five species sharing these morphological features.[2]
Thephylogenetic trees of theEuglena genus still have someclades withpolytomy. The phylogenetic relationship ofEuglena viridis with otherEuglena species is still unclear until 2017.[2]
Euglena viridis is common and cosmopolitan in bodies of water rich inorganic compounds.[2] It can also be bought through some institutions[6][7] and can be maintained by replenishing it with freshtap water and fresh leaf blades once a week.[3] Such accessibility lets it easily be used. For example, a research tests new cultivating system by cultivatingEuglena viridis.[3] AndEuglena viridis is also used as teaching material in biology class in order to demonstrate important biology concepts such as phylogenetic relationship[8] and growth ofpopulation.[9]
In awastewaterbiodegradation system, algae can provide theoxygen thatheterotrophicbacteria need for the degradation oforganic matter.[10] Euglena is considered to be the most pollution tolerance genus among all algae genus.[11] The ability to live in polluted water bodies have letEuglena viridis be used as an oxygen producer in wastewater biodegrading system. And it has been proven thatEuglena viridis can enhance biodegradation in piggery wastewater degradation system.[10]
