 |
||
   |
||
  |
||
|
Species: Pyrocystis | Dinoflagellate Common West Coast species: P. lunula, P. noctiluca Order: Gonyaulacales Family: Pyrocystaceae
Click on the illustration to enlarge* Description (lunula): Unarmored, crescent moon-shaped cells. Chloroplasts present. May be bioluminescent. Easily confused with Dissodinium pseudolunula. Cell Size: Length 100-140um Distribution: Oceanic and coastal. Warm temperate to tropical waters.
Click on the illustration to enlarge* Description (noctiluca): Primary vegetative stage is a large unarmored cell (>350um diameter spherical or subspherical.) Produces 1-2 biflagellated armored cells that resemble Alexandrium. Cell Size: 350um or more Distribution: Oceanic species. Cosmopolitan in warm temperate to tropical waters * The illustration of P. lunula depicts a cell reproducing by production of motile planospores. The planospores look very similar to Alexandrium. The illustration of P. noctiluca shows a parent cell with both planospores and spherical aplanospores. |
|
.jpg)
_sm.jpg)