Gymnodiniales

Gymnodiniales
Karenia brevis, a member of the Kareniaceae; this organism is associated with red tides occurring in the Gulf of Mexico and produces brevetoxins that can harm aquatic life.
Scientific classification
(unranked):	SAR
Superphylum:	Alveolata
Phylum:	Dinoflagellata
Class:	Dinophyceae
Order:	Gymnodiniales
Families
2

The Gymnodiniales are an order of dinoflagellates, of the class Dinophyceae. Members of the order are known as gymnodinioid or gymnodinoid (terms that can also refer to any organism of similar morphology). They are athecate, or lacking an armored exterior, and as a result are relatively difficult to study because specimens are easily damaged. Many species are part of the marine plankton and are of interest primarily due to being found in algal blooms. As a group the gymnodinioids have been described as "likely one of the least known groups of the open ocean phytoplankton."

Of the families in the order, the Polykrikaceae and Warnowiaceae are well known for possessing exceptionally complex assemblies of organelles, such as nematocysts, trichocysts, and pistons. The Warnowiaceae uniquely possess an ocelloid, an extremely complex light-sensitive subcellular structure composed of mitochondria and plastids.

Gallery

Gymnodiniales

Proterythropsis sp. from the family Warnowiaceae, highlighting the distinctive ocelloid (double arrow) Proterythropsis sp. from the family Warnowiaceae, highlighting the distinctive ocelloid (double arrow)  Gyrodinium spirale from the family Gymnodiniaceae Gyrodinium spirale from the family Gymnodiniaceae  Akashiwo sanguinea from the family Gymnodiniaceae Akashiwo sanguinea from the family Gymnodiniaceae