Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a lateral girdle view (diplopsaloid) of a Protoperidinium sp. dinoflagellate. Protoperidinum species are thecate (armoured) marine planktonic heterotrophic (non-photosynthetic) dinoflagellates. 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 its prey with a pseudopod (pallium). Prey cells are captured individually using a thin filament and are then surrounded by a membrane and digested completely outside the theca. Specimen from an algal bloom in the Persian Gulf off Kuwait. Magnification: x2, 500 when shortest axis printed at 25 millimetres. | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / DENNIS KUNKEL MICROSCOPY |
Bildgröße: | 2793 px × 3483 px |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: | - |