Symbiodiniaceae is a family of marine

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 ...

s notable for their symbiotic associations with reef-building corals,

sea anemone Sea anemones ( ) are a group of predation, predatory marine invertebrates constituting the order (biology), order Actiniaria. Because of their colourful appearance, they are named after the ''Anemone'', a terrestrial flowering plant. Sea anemone ...

jellyfish Jellyfish, also known as sea jellies or simply jellies, are the #Life cycle, medusa-phase of certain gelatinous members of the subphylum Medusozoa, which is a major part of the phylum Cnidaria. Jellyfish are mainly free-swimming marine animal ...

, marine sponges,

giant clam ''Tridacna gigas'', the giant clam, is the best-known species of the giant clam genus ''Tridacna''. Giant clams are the largest living bivalve molluscs. Several other species of "giant clam" in the genus ''Tridacna'' are often misidentified as ...

s, acoel flatworms, and other marine invertebrates. Symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae are sometimes colloquially referred to as Zooxanthellae, though the latter term can be interpreted to include other families of symbiotic algae as well. While many Symbiodiniaceae species are endosymbionts, others are free living in the water column or sediment. Most symbiotic members of Symbiodiniaceae were previously assigned to the genus '' Symbiodinium''; however, recent genetic analysis has led to a taxonomic reorganization with several former members of ''Symbiodinium'' (previously "clades") reassigned to new genera within the Symbiodiniaceae family. Species formerly classified within ''Symbiodinum'' Clade A are retained in the ''Symbiodinium'' genus.

Genera

There are eleven accepted genera in this family: *'' Breviolum'' *'' Cladocopium'' *'' Durusdinium'' *'' Freudenthalidium'' *'' Halluxium'' *'' Miliolidium'' *'' Symbiodinium''

References

Taxa described in 1993 Dinoflagellate families Dinophyceae {{dinoflagellate-stub