Question

Are trichocysts seen in dinoflagellates?

Answer 1

Dinoflagellates

1. These are single-celled aquatic protists that belong to the group algae.
2. They have two distinct flagella, one long longitudinal flagella, and one short transverse flagellum.
3. They are photosynthetic and may contain pigments like peridinin, dinoxanthin, and diadinoxanthin giving a golden-brown colour.

Trichocysts

1. Trichocysts are long narrow thread-like appendages in some ciliated and flagellar protozoans.
2. These are ejected as visible bodies under stimuli.
3. Trichocysts are present in dinoflagellates and other ciliated organisms like paramoecium.
4. Their function is unknown but is speculated that it plays a role in the defence.