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| Dinoflagellate | |
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| Ceratium furca | |
| Scientific classification | |
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| Phylum: | Dinoflagellata Bütschli 1885 |
The dinoflagellates are a large group of flagellate protists. About half are photosynthetic, the rest are mostly heterotroph predators of other protists. The ones which are photosynthetic are sometimes loosely called 'algae'; the one which are predators are sometimes loosely called 'protozoa'.
They have been classified as an order, a class and a phylum by different authors. Research is being done on their relationships.
Most are marine plankton, but they are common in fresh water habitats as well. Their populations vary with sea surface temperature, salinity, and depth. The group includes many symbionts and bioluminescent species.
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