I. SYNONYMS: gliding monads, apusozoa.

II. NUMBER: >20 species?

III. PHYLUM CHARACTERISTICS:

• A. Structure and Physiology
  • Cell Form: Unicellular, with thin organic theca or thicker dorsal theca.
  • Flagella: Naked flagella, one anterior (text with tooltip) An anteriorly-directed flagellum extends in the direction of the motion of the motile cell. The interpretation is that the flagellum functions by pulling the cell. and one posterior (text with tooltip) Recurrent flagella bend to the posterior end of the cell. Typically, they are identified as recurrent when anteriorly-directed flagella are present. . Anterior flagellum does not emerge from theca (text with tooltip) A theca (also called an amphiesma) is the name of the dinoflagellate pellicle (formed by the alveolar structure of the cell covering. Cells may be naked (gymnodinoid) or 'armored'. Armored dinoflagellates have alveoli that contain cellulosic plates. in some, but when it does it is associated with retractable basal sheath.
  • Basal Bodies: orientation not known.
  • Cell Covering: Thin organic theca or a thicker organic theca that is present on the dorsal side of the cell only.
  • Chloroplasts: Not present.
  • Food Reserves: Not reported.
  • Mitochondria: Cristae flattened or tubular.
  • Golgi (text with tooltip) Golgi apparatus (also called dictyosome) is an internal membrane system of stacked flattened sacs. They occur in nearly all eukaryotes and are involved in storing and secreting cellular products. : Present.
  • Nucleus: Uninucleate; endosome?
  • Centrioles: Not reported.
  • Inclusions and Ejectile Organelles: Food vacuoles.

• B. Mitosis, Meiosis and Life History
  • Mitosis: Poorly known.
  • Meiosis: Not reported.
  • Sexual Reproduction and Life History: Not reported.

• C. Ecology: Freshwater and marine (most notably in deep ocean vent communities); free-living, bacteria feeders.