''Heterocapsa circularisquama'' is a species of
dinoflagellate
The Dinoflagellates (), also called Dinophytes, are a monophyletic group of single-celled eukaryotes constituting the phylum Dinoflagellata and are usually considered protists. Dinoflagellates are mostly marine plankton, but they are also commo ...
notable for the production of a biotoxin affecting marine fauna.
It is known to produce large
red tides
A harmful algal bloom (HAB), or excessive algae growth, sometimes called a red tide in marine environments, is an algal bloom that causes negative impacts to other organisms by production of natural algae-produced toxins, water deoxygenation, ...
off western Japan, causing high bivalve mortality, particularly pearl oysters. It is very similar to ''
Heterocapsa illdefina'', however ''H. circularisquama'' carries six radiating ridges on its circular basal plate, and its scales have longer spines, among other subtle differences in morphology.
Description
Its cell is small and consists of a conical
epitheca
''Epitheca'' is a genus of Odonata, dragonflies in the family (biology), family Corduliidae. They are commonly known as baskettails. Baskettails' distinction is the specially adapted, upturned abdomen tip of the females which allows them to carr ...
. The
chloroplast
A chloroplast () is a type of membrane-bound organelle, organelle known as a plastid that conducts photosynthesis mostly in plant cell, plant and algae, algal cells. Chloroplasts have a high concentration of chlorophyll pigments which captur ...
is single and is connected to the unique
pyrenoid
Pyrenoids are sub-cellular phase-separated micro-compartments found in chloroplasts of many algae,Giordano, M., Beardall, J., & Raven, J. A. (2005). CO2 concentrating mechanisms in algae: mechanisms, environmental modulation, and evolution. ''An ...
. Its nucleus is elongated, located in the left side of the cell.
References
Further reading
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External links
AlgaeBase
Protists described in 1995
Dinoflagellate species
Dinophyceae
{{dinoflagellate-stub