Ma. Faust, MORPHOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF THE MARINE BENTHIC DINOFLAGELLATE SCRIPPSIELLA-SUBSALSA (DINOPHYCEAE), Journal of phycology, 32(4), 1996, pp. 669-675
The thecal surface morphology of Scrippsiella subsalsa (Ostenfeld) Ste
idinger et Balech was examined using the scanning electron microscope.
This species is distinguished by a number of morphological characteri
stics. Apical plate 1' is wide, asymmetric, and pentagonal, and it end
s at the anterior margin of the cingulum. Intercalary plates 2a and 3a
are separated by apical plate 3'. The apical pore complex includes a
large P-o plate with a raised dome at the center and a deep canal plat
e with thickened margins at plates 2', 3', and 4'. The intercalary ban
ds are wide and deeply striated. The cingulum is deep, formed by six c
ingular plates; its surface is transversely striated and aligned with
a row of minute pores. The cingular list continues around postcingular
plate 1 ''' to form a sulcal list. The sulcal list is a flexible ribb
on with a rounded tip that protrudes posteriorly, partially covering t
he sulcal plates. The hypotheca is lobed, and the antapical plates are
irregularly shaped and wide in antapical view. The thecal surface is
vermiculate to reticulate. A comparison in morphology and ecology is p
resented between S. subsalsa and other known Scrippsiella species.