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Amphiesma

The amphiesma is a complex cell covering found in some dinoflagellates; it's composed of flattened vesicles called alveoli that sometimes support overlapping cellulose plates to form a type of scaly armor called a theca. Dinoflagellate species and even developmental stage determine the form the amphiesma takes in the organism.

While the flagella in a dinoflagellate provides the force for locomotion, the vesicles that cover its body in the amphiesma provide it with protection from the elements and from predators. It also gives genetic researchers an added barrier when working with dinoflagellates.

In some forms of amphiesma, fibrous extrusomes (which jut away from the body) may be found. This and other structural and genetic details seems to indicate that the dinoflagellates are closely related to the ciliates and Apicomplexa. Together, the three groups are called alveolates.

Amphiesma has an alternate meaning; it is also a type of nonpoisonous snake of the colubrid family, subfamily Natricinae.

Web Resources On Amphiesma

Biocrawler: Dinoflagellate
Amphiesma stolata

Book Resources On Amphiesma

The Biology of Dinoflagellates by F. J. R. Taylor
A new race of Amphiesma Pryeri by Edmond V Malnate

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