portrait

Description:

Dictyocha (dick-tee-oke-a) is a silicoflagellate, a type of flagellate which is quite common in marine waters, although there are very few species. The cells contain an open polygonal skeleton of silica with radiating spines. The skeleton survives when the organism dies, and so is often seen on its own. This cell is distressed . Phase contrast image by Dave Caron.