Heterocapsa cf. triquetra
Click on image to view photo information.
Heter_tr11.jpg Heter_tr8.jpg Heter_tr15.jpg
Taxonomic Group: Dinoflagellate
Trophic Status: Autotrophic
Size Range: 10-12 μm wide x 15-16 μm long (LUMCON Guide); 9-18 μm wide x 16-30 μm long (Dodge 1982, Horner 2002)
Key Characteristics: Small cell with a rounded to conical epitheca with straight sides; hypotheca variably shaped, with an asymmetrical horn that is not always robust; thecate with no spines or ornamentation; girdle median and slightly excavated; one peripheral chloroplast and a large median pyrenoid
Confused With: The cells we count in this category differ from other published descriptions for H. triquetra, but there are some similarities
Toxin: None known