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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Gymnodinium

Gymnodinium Stein (ref. ID; 1618) or Stein em. Kofoid & Swezy (ref. ID; 3517)

[ref. ID; 1618]
Pellicle delicate; subcircular; bilaterally symmetrical; numerous discoid chromatophores varicolored (yellow to deep brown, green, or blue) or sometimes absent; stigma present in few; many with mucilaginous envelope; salt, brackish, or fresh water. (ref. ID; 1618)

[ref. ID; 3490]
The flagellate cell is generally ovoid and is provided with the girdle near the middle part and the sulcus which does not extend along the entire length on the ventral side. The transverse flagellum waves in the girdle and the longitudinal one comes out at the central portion of the sulcus and stretched posteriorly. The nucleus is usually more or less large and situated in the center of the cell. The chromatophores are usually numerous and discoidal or ovoidal, while rarely absent. (ref. ID; 3490)
  1. Gymnodinium aeruginosum Stein (ref. ID; 1618)
  2. Gymnodinium agile Kofoid & Swezy (ref. ID; 1618)
  3. Gymnodinium arcuatum Kofoid (ref. ID; 3494)
  4. Gymnodinium aureolum (Hulburt) Hansen (ref. ID; 7121)
  5. Gymnodinium baccatum Balech, 1965 (ref. ID; 3544)
  6. Gymnodinium baicalense Antipova (ref. ID; 7121)
  7. Gymnodinium biciliatum
    See; Gymnodinium veris (ref. ID; 3490)
  8. Gymnodinium breve (Davis) (ref. ID; 3973) reported author and year? (ref. ID; 3731)
    Syn; Ptychodiscus brevis (Davis) Steidinger, 1979 (ref. ID; 3973)
  9. Gymnodinium catenatum Graham, 1943 (ref. ID; 6716) reported year? (ref. ID; 3494, 7121)
  10. Gymnodinium cinctum Kofoid & Swezy (ref. ID; 3544)
  11. Gymnodinium dodgei Sarma & Shyam, 1974 (ref. ID; 3731)
  12. Gymnodinium flavum Kofoid & Swezy (ref. ID; 3544)
  13. Gymnodinium frigidum Balech (ref. ID; 3544)
  14. Gymnodinium fungiforme (ref. ID; 4371)
  15. Gymnodinium fuscum (Ehrenberg) Stein (ref. ID; 7121) reported author and year? (ref. ID; 6716)
  16. Gymnodinium hiroshimaensis Hada, 3497 (ref. ID; 3497 original paper)
  17. Gymnodinium impatiens Skuja (ref. ID; 7121)
  18. Gymnodinium impudicum (ref. ID; 6716)
  19. Gymnodinium lalitae Sarma & Shyam, 1974 (ref. ID; 3731)
  20. Gymnodinium lantzschii Urerm. var. rhinophoron Javornicky (ref. ID; 3517)
  21. Gymnodinium lunulum Schutt (ref. ID; 3494)
  22. Gymnodinium marinum Kent (ref. ID; 3497)
  23. Gymnodinium microreticulatum (ref. ID; 6716)
  24. Gymnodinium micrum (Leadbeater & Dodge) Loeblich, 1970 (ref. ID; 3731)
  25. Gymnodinium mikimotoi Miyake & Kominami, 1935 (ref. ID; 7109) reported year? (ref. ID; 3494)
    Syn; Gymnodinium nagasakiense Takayama & Adachi, 1984 (ref. ID; 7109)
  26. Gymnodinium minor Lebour (ref. ID; 3497, 3544)
  27. Gymnodinium nagasakiense Takayama & Adachi, 1984
    See; Gymnodinium mikimotoi (ref. ID; 7109)
  28. Gymnodinium nelsoni (ref. ID; 3731, 4102)
  29. Gymnodinium nolleri (ref. ID; 6716)
  30. Gymnodinium ostenfeldi Schiller (ref. ID; 3494)
  31. Gymnodinium ovulum Kofoid & Swezy (ref. ID; 3494)
  32. Gymnodinium palustre Schilling (ref. ID; 1618, 3490)
  33. Gymnodinium pigmentosum (Dodge) Loeblich, 1970 (ref. ID; 3731)
  34. Gymnodinium pseudopalustre Schiller, 1932 (ref. ID; 3731)
  35. Gymnodinium rotundatum Klebs (ref. ID; 1618)
  36. Gymnodinium sanguineum Hirasaka, 1922 (ref. ID; 4151) reported author and year? (ref. ID; 7270)
  37. Gymnodinium simplex Lohmann (ref. ID; 3494) or (Lohmann) Peters, 1930 (ref. ID; 4151)
  38. Gymnodinium soyai Hada, 1970 (ref. ID; 3544 original paper)
  39. Gymnodinium splendens Lebour, 1925 (ref. ID; 3731) reported year? (ref. ID; 3494)
  40. Gymnodinium tenuissimum Lauterborn (ref. ID; 3490)
  41. Gymnodinium trapeziforme (ref. ID; 6716)
  42. Gymnodinium veneficum Ballantine, 1956 (ref. ID; 3731)
  43. Gymnodinium veris Lindemann (ref. ID; 3490)
  44. Gymnodinium vitiligo Ballantine, 1956 (ref. ID; 3731)
  45. Gymnodinium zachariasii Lemmermann, 1900 (ref. ID; 3731)

Gymnodinium aeruginosum Stein (ref. ID; 1618)

Descriptions

Green chromatophores; ponds and lakes. (ref. ID; 1618)

Measurements

20-32 by 13-25 um. (ref. ID; 1618)

Gymnodinium agile Kofoid & Swezy (ref. ID; 1618)

Descriptions

Along sandy beaches. (ref. ID; 1618)

Measurements

About 28 um long. (ref. ID; 1618)

Gymnodinium arcuatum Kofoid (ref. ID; 3494)

Descriptions

The species with an arcuated posterior end is oblong in lateral view, and yellowish orange in colour of the body due to absence of chromatophores and presence of oil globules. (ref. ID; 3494)

Measurements

Length 50 um; breadth 35 um. (ref. ID; 3494)

Gymnodinium aureolum (Hulburt) Hansen (ref. ID; 7121)

Descriptions

Free-living. GenBank accession number AY999082. (ref. ID; 7121)

Geographic origin

Current waters off Namibia. (ref. ID; 7121)

Gymnodinium baccatum Balech, 1965 (ref. ID; 3544)

Descriptions

The small elongate naked dinoflagellate consists of a smaller conical epicone and a larger ovate hypocone. The girdle hungs down on the ventral face and the sulcus stretches to the posterior end. A number of ovoid chromatophores are scattered in the entire body, in which two minute pulsing vacuoles of a pale pink color are typically seen. The nucleus is rather large near the center of the body. (ref. ID; 3544)

Comments

The present form is more or less different in details from one reported by Balech (1965) from the Weddell Sea, but they are closely allied to each other in general contour. Such slight differences are probably caused by fixing samples. Therefore, the form from the sea near Syowa Station may be included in G. baccatum described in originally by Balech from the Weddell Sea. (ref. ID; 3544)

Measurements

Length 23-30; breadth 14-20 um. (ref. ID; 3544)

Gymnodinium baicalense Antipova (ref. ID; 7121)

Descriptions

Free-living. GenBank accession number FJ024297. (ref. ID; 7121)

Geographic origin

Lake Baikal, Russia. (ref. ID; 7121)

Gymnodinium catenatum Graham, 1943 (ref. ID; 6716) reported year? (ref. ID; 3494, 7121)

Descriptions

The cell is oblong in swimming and round in resting. The apical end anteriorly is produced and the distal end is rounded. The girdle is wide and transversal in the middle of the body. Chromatophores are numerous and ovate. A number of individuals usually make a long chain-like colony. (ref. ID; 3494)
Free-living. GenBank accession number AF022193. (ref. ID; 7121)

Remarks

This species produces paralytic shellfish toxins (PSP). The toxic dinoflagellate G. catenatum was first described occurring in the Gulf of California in 1943 (Graham, 1943). (ref. ID; 6716)

Geographic origin

Coastal waters of Africa. (ref. ID; 7121)

Measurements

Length 47-52 um, breadth 23-25 um in swimming; length 30-35 um in resting. (ref. ID; 3494)
Significant differences were found between cell length (CL), cell width (CW) and CW/CL ratios in laboratory cultures in the late exponential growth phase. Average CL varied between 41 and 53.69 um, with a range between 26.94 and 69.99 um; average CW varied between 33.75 and 40.68 um, with a range between 25.04 and 54.73 um; the average CW/CL varied between 0.76 and 0.97 um, with a range between 0.49 and 1.27 um. Cingulum thickness was between 3 and 4.11 um, with a range between 1.97 and 6.74 um. Cell size varied with the length of the chain and position in the chain. (ref. ID; 6716)

Gymnodinium cinctum Kofoid & Swezy (ref. ID; 3544)

Descriptions

The body consists of a conical epicone and a hemispherical hypocone. The girdle is transversal at the middle of the body and the sulcus does not stretch to the ends. Numerous small chromatophores are scattered in the entire body. The ovoid nucleus usually exists in the posterior half of the body. (ref. ID; 3544)

Measurements

Length 27-48; breadth 22-25 um. Length 32 um, breadth 25 um in a cyst. (ref. ID; 3544)

Gymnodinium flavum Kofoid & Swezy (ref. ID; 3544)

Descriptions

The rounded body has a wide, nearly straight girdle transversing at the center and a short sulcus. The surface layer of the body is more or less hardened to take a constant form. Chromatophores are many and ovoidal. The nucleus is ellipsoid and typically near the center. (ref. ID; 3544)

Measurements

Length 30-40; breadth 25-40 um. (ref. ID; 3544)

Gymnodinium frigidum Balech (ref. ID; 3544)

Descriptions

The body is broadly conical with a roundly pointing apical end and a slightly concave basal flat. The girdle is wide and descends at the center of the ventral face, and the sulcus is also wide and extends to the sunken posterior end. Numerous small chromatophores are ovoid and distributed radially. The large ellipsoidal nucleus is typically at the center. (ref. ID; 3544)

Measurements

Length 45-47; breadth 37-42 um. (ref. ID; 3544)

Gymnodinium fuscum (Ehrenberg) Stein (ref. ID; 7121) reported author and year? (ref. ID; 6716)

Descriptions

Free-living. GenBank accession number AF022194. (ref. ID; 7121)

Geographic origin

Freshwater lake, Europe. (ref. ID; 7121)

Gymnodinium hiroshimaensis Hada, 3497 (ref. ID; 3497 original paper)

Comments

The new form is allied to Gymnodinium paulseni Schiller in presence of chromatophores and general contour, but is different from the latter in having a lager epicone with a more pointing anterior end. (ref. ID; 3497)

Gymnodinium impatiens Skuja (ref. ID; 7121)

Descriptions

GenBank accession number EF058239. (ref. ID; 7121)

Geographic origin

Freshwater reservoir, Brandenburg; Neuglobsow, Germany. (ref. ID; 7121)

Gymnodinium lunulum Schutt (ref. ID; 3494)

Descriptions

The species well-known owing to the complicated life history is one of the common plankton organisms in seas surrounding Japan. (ref. ID; 3494)

Measurements

Length 95-100 um, breadth 18-20 in crescent cysts. (ref. ID; 3494)

Gymnodinium marinum Kent (ref. ID; 3497)

Descriptions

The body is tumbler-shaped, consisting of the small epicone in which the sulcus is not stretched, and of the broader hypocone, and contains no chromatophore, many small globules and a large ovoidal nucleus. (ref. ID; 3497)

Measurements

Length 10 um; breadth 7 um. (ref. ID; 3497)

Gymnodinium mikimotoi Miyake & Kominami, 1935 (ref. ID; 7109) reported year? (ref. ID; 3494)

Synonym

Gymnodinium nagasakiense Takayama & Adachi, 1984 (ref. ID; 7109)

Descriptions

The compressed species is rounded with a lower epicone, comprising with a hypocone. Oblong chromatophores are many and yellowish green. (ref. ID; 3494)

Comments

This species is closely similar G. simplex Lohmann in form and size, but it is easily distinguishable from the latter in having many smaller chromatophores instead of few larger ones in the latter. (ref. ID; 3494)

Measurements

Length 15-25 um; breadth 15-24 um. (ref. ID; 3494)

Gymnodinium minor Lebour (ref. ID; 3497, 3544)

Descriptions

Having no chromatophore, the minute rounded species is colourless. The girdle is transversal slightly below the middle, and the sulcus is not extended into the epicone. The nucleus is spherical and situated at the center of the body. (ref. ID; 3497)
The colorless form without chromatophores is small and elliptical in side view. The girdle is transverse at the middle of the body, and the sulcus slightly extends upwards, while fairly downwards from the center. The nucleus is comparatively large and ovoid at the center of the body. The pulsing vacuoles are usually seen due to absence of chromatophore. The protoplasm is more or less granular. (ref. ID; 3544)

Measurements

Specimens examined from Hiroshima Bay are fairly smaller in comparison with European ones, the former being 10 um in length, while the latter 28 um. (ref. ID; 3497)
Length 18; breadth 16 um. (ref. ID; 3544)

Gymnodinium nelsoni (ref. ID; 3731, 4102)

Descriptions

Marine dinoflagellate. (ref. ID; 4102)

Gymnodinium ostenfeldi Schiller (ref. ID; 3494)

Descriptions

The elongate form consisting of a small epicone and a longer hypocone, is somewhat compressed and twisted in swimming. Chromatophores are many and greenish brown. The pulsing vacuole connecting two flagellar pores is reddish as seen like an eye-spot. (ref. ID; 3494)

Measurements

Length 15-25 um; breadth 10-18 um. (ref. ID; 3494)

Gymnodinium ovulum Kofoid & Swezy (ref. ID; 3494)

Descriptions

The round species without chromatophores generally has a large oil drop and a long longitudinal flagellum. (ref. ID; 3494)

Measurements

Length 15-20 um; breadth 12-15 um. (ref. ID; 3494)

Gymnodinium palustre Schilling (ref. ID; 1618, 3490)

Descriptions

In fresh water. (ref. ID; 1618)
The oblong species of which the epicone is somewhat longer than the hypocone. (ref. ID; 3490)

Measurements

45 by 38 um. (ref. ID; 1618)

Gymnodinium rotundatum Klebs (ref. ID; 1618)

Descriptions

In fresh water. (ref. ID; 1618)

Measurements

32-35 by 22-25 um. (ref. ID; 1618)

Gymnodinium simplex Lohmann (ref. ID; 3494) or (Lohmann) Peters, 1930 (ref. ID; 4151)

Descriptions

The small unarmored dinoflagellate is rounded and more or less compressed laterally. Chromatophores are comparatively large and several in number. (ref. ID; 3494)

Measurements

Length 15-20 um. (ref. ID; 3494)

Gymnodinium soyai Hada, 1970 (ref. ID; 3544 original paper)

Descriptions

The small body is somewhat compressed dorso-ventrally, and consists of a conical epicone and a fairly larger hypocone rounded at the posterior end. The girdle is curved on the ventral face, and the sulcus does not typically extend to the epicone, while the latter stretches to the antapical end. Chromatophores are many and ovoid, and the nucleolus is usually central. Two pulsing vacuoles are scarcely observed. The cysts are generally ellipsoidal and covered with thick gelationus layers. (ref. ID; 3544)

Comments

The new species is easily distinguishable from the allied form, G. cinctum Kofoid & Swezy, in smaller dimension and in fewer number and larger size of chromatophores. It is a common species in the region of the antarctic sea neighboring Syowa Station, being found in many plankton materials of surface water. (ref. ID; 3544)

Measurements

Length 13-28; breadth 10-23; length of cysts 25-30; breadth of the same 17-23 um. (ref. ID; 3544)

Gymnodinium splendens Lebour, 1925 (ref. ID; 3731) reported year? (ref. ID; 3494)

Descriptions

The unarmored form is fairly compressed and composed of a conical epicone anterior end and a hypocone with an arcute depression at the posterior end. The deep girdle is located transversally at the middle of the body. Many lines made of minute rod-shaped chromatophores run radially. The large ovoidal nucleus is at the center of the cell. (ref. ID; 3494)

Measurements

Length 75-77 um; breadth 50-55 um; thickness 25-30 um. (ref. ID; 3494)

Gymnodinium tenuissimum Lauterborn (ref. ID; 3490)

Descriptions

The ovate species as long as 48-60 um and as broad as 40-50 um, is remarkably compressed dorso-ventrally as thick as about 5 um. Living individuals usually bend ventrally the lateral ends of the flattened cell. The chromatophores are numerous, discoidal and dark brown. (ref. ID; 3490)

Gymnodinium veris Lindemann (ref. ID; 3490)

Descriptions

The small species, 20-37 um in length and 14-30 um in breadth, is ovate in front view and is slightly compressed dorso-ventrally. The chromatophores are numerous and yellowish brown in colour. (ref. ID; 3490)
  • Cyst: When temperature of water become higher, encysted ones appear. Cysts generally change from the larger diamond-shaped form to the smaller confetto-shaped one. (ref. ID; 3490)

    Comments

    The specimens having two longitudinal flagella were found by Ohno (1911) from the pond in the University of Tokyo in winter and reported as the new species named Gymnodinium biciliatum. Being closely allied in form and size excepting in number of flagella and also almost equal in season of occurrence, they seem to be included in this species. (ref. ID; 3490)