Amphidinium Claperède & Lachmann, 1859
Holotype species: Amphidinium operculatum Claparède & Lachmann
Original publication and holotype designation: Claparède, É. & Lachmann, J. (1859). Études sur les infusoires et les rhizopodes. Mémoires de l'Institut National Genevois 6: 261-482.
Request PDFDescription: Small to large (<10-100 µm) unarmored free-living cell, predominantly motile, sometimes enclosed in a hyaline cyst. Cells globular to fusiform, laterally or dorsoventrally compressed. Epicone small and hypocone large, as the cingulum is located in the anterior part of the cell. Some cells have larger epicones, intermediate between Amphidinium and Gymnodinium Stein. Cingulum circular or little displaced, but displaced considerably in a few species, which are intermediate between Amphidinium and Gyrodinium Kofoid and Swezy. Cingulum making one or a just over one turn. Sulcus extends from cingulum to antapex, in some species to apex. Typical dinokaryon located in the hypocone. Amphiesma delicate or rigid, smooth or with striae on hypocone or also epicone. Number of striae may differ on epicone and hypocone. Chloroplasts present or absent. Nutrition phototroph, phagotroph either by ingestion of whole particles or by myzocytosis. Chloroplasts of some species may be derived from cryptophycean endosymbionts. Cytoplasm hyaline or of various colors, dense granules may be present. Some species form temporary cysts. Vegetative reproduction by binary fission, sexual reproduction known but no resting cysts. Some species produce unusual sterols, others toxic substances. Cosmopolitan, marine, brackish or freshwater, planktonic or sand-dwelling. Some species produce unusual sterols, others toxins. Endosymbiotic species reported, but delimitation of these taxa from Endodinium Hovasse, which has been regarded as later synonym by some authors, must be justified. Emended by Jorgensen, Murray & Daugbjerg (2004: 361).
Information contributed by: M. Elbrächter. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2024-05-31 by M.D. Guiry.
Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.
Gender: This genus name is currently treated as neuter.
Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Moestrup, Ø. & Calado, A.J. (2018). Süßwasserflora von Mitteleuropa. Dinophyceae. Vol. 6 pp. [i]-xii, [1]-560, 421 figures. Berlin: Springer Spektrum.
Comments: Popovsky & Pfiester (1990: 89) place this genus in the Order Peridiniales.
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Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera,
organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA)
and intended to be published in CD format.
These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above.
The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.
Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.
Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=44134
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 31 May 2024. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 22 November 2024
