Syndinium Chatton, 1910

Holotype species: Syndinium turbo Chatton

Original publication and holotype designation: Chatton, É. (1910). Sur l'existence de dinoflagellés parasites coelomiques. Les Syndinium chez les copépodes pélagiques. Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de l'Académie des Sciences 102: 654-656.

Description: Endocytic plasmodial parasites, characterized by the special nuclear chemical composition and mode of mitosis. In contrast to other dinoflagellates, they possess cytochemically detectable basic chromosomal proteins like histones. During growth of the plasmodium, the nuclei divide without any distinct interphase. The few (4-5) chromosomes remain permanently grouped and attached to the nuclear envelope and, by chromosomal fibers, to the kinetic fibers. Chromosomal fibers are short, due to the proximity of the nucleus and the kinetosomes. At the first stage of sporogenesis, chromosomes lose their connection with the kinetide, remaining dispersed. During sporogenesis, the cytoplasm of the plasmodium undergoes fragmentation, always including only one nucleus. The spores are Gymnodinium- or Gyrodinium-like, but in some species, like those of Noctiluca. During the trophic phase, the cell wall is a typical dinoflagellate amphiesma, without thecal plates in the amphiesmal vesicles. Typical dinoflagellate trichocysts are present. Parasites of marine Crustacea and Appendicularia. Species parasitizing the extra- or endocapsular cytoplasm of Radiolaria are regarded by some as belonging to the separate genus Merodinium Chatton, but others include these species in Syndinium. The very similar genus Hematodinium Chatton and Poisson differs in not forming a very large plasmodium, occupying more or less the whole hemocoel but producing only small plasmodia.

Information contributed by: M. Elbrächter. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2013-04-29 by M.D. Guiry.

Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

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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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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.

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Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 29 April 2013. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 24 November 2024