Protoperidinium, dinoflagellate
By Nic Christ

Protoperidinium

Protoperidinium are dinoflagellates that can be found throughout the world’s coastal ocean at about the size fifty to one hundred micrometers. They have a diamond shaped cell that acts as strong armor and is made of a series of plates where their flagellae come through (Johannesson et al 2000). The flagella is what gives the protoperidinium the ability to swim.
These dinoflagellates are either colorless or have faint yellow or brownish colors. Pink and red patches may be present on their shell as well. They play an important role in the food chain, the serve as predators as well a prey. They eat small organisms like diatoms and are fed on by plankton like copepods (Evagelopoulos 2002).

References

Johannesson, Bo, Larsvik, Martin, Loo, Lars-Ove, Samuelsson, Helena. “Protoperidinium-dinoflagellates.” Aquascope. Tjärnö Marine Biological Laboratory, Strömstad, Sweden. 2000. Web. 18 May 2016.

Evagelopoulos, A. “Taxonomic notes on Protoperidinium (Peridiniales, Dinophyceae) species in the Thermaikos Bay (North Aegean Sea, Greece)”. Mediterranean Marine Science. Vol. 3/2, 2002. University of the Aegean, Department of Marine Sciences, University Hill, 811 00, Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece. pp. 41-54. Web (PDF). 17 May 2016.