Moestrupia oblonga

Gyrodinium (gyre-o-din-ee-um) oblongum Larsen & Patterson 1990. The image shows a cell in ventral view. The epicone is asymmetrical, the cingulum is strongly descending. The cell contains plastids.

Gyrodinium oblongum observed in marine muds and sandy sediments in the vicinity of Broome, Western Australia in September 2003. This image was taken using differential interference contrast optics.   This work was supported by the Australian Biological Resources Study.

Gyrodinium oblongum, showing its pyrenoid, observed in marine muds and sandy sediments in the vicinity of Broome, Western Australia in September 2003. This image was taken using differential interference contrast optics.   This work was supported by the Australian Biological Resources Study.

Gyrodinium oblongum cells are oblong from the ventral side, dorso-ventrally flattened posteriorly, length 17 - 25 microns, width 6-10 microns. The epicone and hypocone are approximately equal in size. Cingulum displaced approximately 1/4 - 1/3 of cell length. The sulcus initially narrow but widens at the posterior end . Apical groove not present. Nucleus in the hypocone, approximately 5 microns diameter . Chloroplast single, yellow-brown, forms thin longitudinal strands towards the anterior and posterior ends. Obvious pyrenoid present, 3 - 4 microns diameter, in the centre of the cell.