flagellated single cell

Description:

Peridinium gatunense, a large dinoflagellate (ca. 50 um diameter) is the main bloom-forming species in the plankton of Lake Kinneret. At the height of the bloom it forms patches in which cell densities are particularly high and the water gets coffee color. Peridinium has 2 unequal flagella, the longitudinal "whiplash" flagellum is seen in this picture, the second, transverse flagellum is hidden in the transverse groove or cingulum. A Microcystis colony is seen next to the Peridinium, note the large difference in cell size. This specimen was sampled in the littoral in June 2006.