Skip to content

Peridinium (Peridiniidae)

Back a level
In this section

Diagnostic features

Dinoflagellate with roughly spherical but flattened cells, with a groove (cingulum) circling the cell, containing a flagellum. Thick armoured plates cover the cell wall. Some species possess blunt horns (one from the apical half of the cell, two from the lower half, like a blunter Ceratium).

[Peridinium] (sewage pond), X400. Photo: Otago Regional Council & Manaaki Whenua Image
Peridinium (sewage pond), X400. Photo: Otago Regional Council & Manaaki Whenua
[Peridinium], Lake Hayes, X640. Photo: Otago Regional Council & Manaaki Whenua Image
Peridinium, Lake Hayes, X640. Photo: Otago Regional Council & Manaaki Whenua

Typical habitats

Lakes and ponds with moderate to good water quality

Classification

Kingdom Chromista
Phylum Myzozoa
Class Peridinea
Order Peridiniida
Family Peridiniidae
Common name Dinoflagellates