Dinoflagellates, also called dinophytes, are a group of single-celled eukaryotes constituting the phylum Dinoflagellata and are usually considered protists. They are mostly marine plankton, though they are also common in freshwater habitats, and their populations vary with sea surface temperature, salinity and depth. Many dinoflagellates are photosynthetic, but a large share of these are mixotrophic, combining photosynthesis with the ingestion of prey.
Facts
Classification
DietPhotosynthetic Autotroph 1 System (Realm) Living or Extinct Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceUnicellular organisms with two dissimilar flagella arising from the ventral side of the cell (dinokont flagellation). 1 Scientific Name Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
Source Wikipedia: Dinoflagellate
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Dinoflagellate
WikipediaInfobox, phylum
Dinoflagellata
Morphology
Dinoflagellates are unicellular and possess two dissimilar flagella arising from the ventral cell side (dinokont flagellation).
- mostly marine plankton, also common in freshwater habitats
Lead section
A rapid accumulation of certain dinoflagellates can result in a visible coloration of the water, colloquially known as red tide (a harmful algal bloom), which can cause shellfish poisoning if humans eat contaminated shellfish
In Biome: Freshwater, Lead
Dinoflagellates are mostly marine plankton, but they are also common in freshwater habitats.
View the Source 2. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ120490, descriptionView the Source Wikidata: Dinoflagellata
- Wikidata Q120490, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
- Child Taxon Of: Eukarya, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
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