Kingdom Protista

Phylum Pyrrhophyta - Dinoflagellates
Unicellular, photosynthetic, mostly marine, some bioluminescent
Distinctive flagella and coat
two flagella beat in grooves
coat composed of cellulose plates
Most use chlorophyll a & c and carotenoids
Some are symbiotic with animals
sea anemones, mollusks and corals
in corals - called “zooxanthellae”,
required for formation of coral reefs
Some forms cause “red tide”
large blooms result in red colored water
release toxins that kill fish and shellfish
consumption of poisoned fish can kill
Reproduce primarily asexually by longitudinal cell division with
nuclear mitosis - like fungi