Description of Heteronema

Heteronematine euglenid, colourless, phagotrophic, non-rigid, elongated, tapering, unflattened cells, some with moderate euglenoid movement others very metabolic, skidding or gliding; two flagella both emergent, unequal in length and thickness, the longer (thicker) one directed anteriorly during swimming or gliding, the other trailing but not attached to body; canal opening subapical; muciferous bodies may be present, common and widespread genus in fresh and marine waters; cosmopolitan; bBoundaries of genus are not easy to determine. Type species H. marinum Dujardin, 1841.