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Name derivation
Classification:
Nematodinium C.A. Kofoid & O. Swezy, 1921; 4 of 5 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2017). Order Gymnodiniales; Family Warnowiaceae
Morphology:
Biflagellate unicells with a wide range of size, 20 – 1110 μm long. Oval or fusiform. Have an ocelloid (‘eye’) and ejectosomes (incorrectly called ‘nematocysts’). Twisted such that the cingulum (horizontal groove) loops around the cell > 2.5 times, and the sulcus (longitudinal groove) 1.5 times (Ibid.). The ocelloid is much more complex than an invertebrate ocellus (simple eye), and is a chmaeric structure constructed from various organelles with different endosymbiotic histories such as mitochondria ‘cornea’ and plastid ‘retina’ (Gavelis et al. 2015). Sketch (left) and TEM (right) of ocelloid from Nematodinium and Erythropsidinium respectively from Gavelis et al. (2015).
Similar genera:
Habitat:
Marine plankton.
References:
Gavelis, G.S., S. Hayakawa, R.A. White III, T. Gojobori, C.A. Suttle, P.J. Keeling & B.S. Leander 2015. Eye-like ocelloids are built from different endosymbiotically acquired components. Nature 523: 204-207. Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2013. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 24 January 2013. Kofoid, C.A. & Swezy, O. (1921. The free-living unarmored Dinoflagellata. Memoirs of the University of California 5: i-viii, 1-562.
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