portrait

Description:

Gyrodinium estuariale cells are round from the ventral side, slightly dorso-ventrally flattened, length 10 - 12 microns, width 9 - 10 microns. Cingulum wide, approximately 2 microns, proximal end 1 cingulum-width lower than distal end. Sulcus relatively wide, 1.5 - 2 microns. Apical groove present, curving to the left towards the apex from the junction of the cingulum and sulcus. Longitudinal flagellum arises at the anterior end of the sulcus. Orange stigma-like body present. Position of the nucleus not observed. A number of small yellow-green chloroplasts distributed in the epicone and hypocone. Generally very fast swimming.