Heterotrophic dinoflagellate Protoperidinium sp., scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Protoperidinium are thecate (armoured), marine planktonic, heter
Heterotrophic dinoflagellate Protoperidinium sp., scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Protoperidinium are thecate (armoured), marine planktonic, heterotrophic (non-photosynthetic) dinoflagellate. Shown here is a antapical view of a Protoperidinium species. The armoured theca (surrounding the cell; made of cellulose) is well developed. Unlike photosynthetic dinoflagellates (true algae), heterotrophic dinoflagellates (protists; protozoa) feed directly on diatoms, other dinoflagellates, prasinophytes and ciliates. Protoperidinium is a pallium feeder that engulfs (ingests) its prey with a pseudopod (pallium). Prey cells are captured individually using a thin filament and are then surrounded by a membrane (the pallium) and digested completely outside the theca. There are over 40 species of Protoperidinium that are distributed worldwide in both cold and temperate seawater. Magnification: x345 when shortest axis printed at 25 millimetres.
Size: 2901px × 3483px
Photo credit: © DENNIS KUNKEL MICROSCOPY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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