Home / Dinophyceae /Photosynthetic / Cystodinium

Home button

Click on images for larger format

Name derivation

 

 

Classification:

Cystodinium  Klebs  1912;  5 of 20 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry 2013).

Order Phytodiniales;  Family Phytodiniaceae

Morphology:

Both nonflagellate cells 33 – 130 µm long, lunate with ‘horns’ drawn out to a point, as well as biflagellate zoospores that resemble Gymnodinium.

 

Similar genera:

 

Habitat:.

Epineustonic non-flagellate cells in freshwater habitats.  Zoospores are strongly +phototactic facilitating entrance into the epineuston where they shed their theca as the new cell wall asymmetrically elongates into the immobile vegetative stage (Timpano and Pfiester 1985).

 

References:

Guiry, M.D., and G.M. Guiry  2013.  AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway.  http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 16 January 2013.

Klebs, G.  1912.  Über Flagellaten- und Algen-ähnliche Peridineen.  Verh. Naturhist. Med. Vereins Heidelberg, N.F. 11: 369-451.

Timpano, P., and L.A. Pfiester  1985.  Colonization of the epineuston by Cystodinium bataviense (Dinophyceae):  Behavior of the zoospore.  Journal of Phycology 21(1):56-62.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home / Dinoflagellates / Amphidinium