Dinoflagellate

Dinophyceae

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Noctiluciphyceae

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Syndiniophyceae

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The dinoflagellates are a large group of flagellate protists. Most are marine plankton, but they are common in fresh water habitats as well. About half of all dinoflagellates are photosynthetic, and these make up the largest group of eukaryotic algae aside from the diatoms. Some species, called zooxanthellae, are endosymbionts of marine animals and protozoa, and play an important part in the biology of coral reefs. Other dinoflagellates are colorless predators on other protozoa, and a few forms are parasitic.

Related Topics:
Flagellate - Protist - Plankton - Fresh water - Photosynthetic - Eukaryotic - Alga - Diatom - Zooxanthella - Endosymbiont - Coral - Parasitic

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