| Major Taxonomic
Group: Dinoflagellates
Size and Shape:
Large (up to 100
µm) and roughly diamond-shaped. Slightly dorsoventrally
compressed.
Plastids and
Pigments: Numerous
discoid, yellow brown plastids throughout the cell. Sometimes the
plastids are only in the hyptheca due to the nucleus taking up the
epitheca.
Distinguishing
features: Has a highly
displaced cingulum, looks like the 'mark of Zorro' has been placed
across
the cell.
Distribution:
World wide in estuarine
and neritic waters. Common species, cosmopolitan.
Impact:
Unknown.
References:
Lewitus,
A.J., Schmidt, L.B.,
Mason, L.J., Kempton, J.W., Wilde, S.B., Wolny, J.L., Williams, B.J.,
Hayes,
K.C., Hymel, S.N., Keppler, C.J., and Ringwood, A.H. (2003) Harmful
algal
blooms in South Carolina residential and golf course ponds. Population
and Environment. 24: 387-413.
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