Question

Are dinoflagellates plants or animals?

Answer 1

Dinoflagellates:

1. They are single-celled, eukaryotic protists.
2. They are primarily marine planktons.
3. However, it can also be found in freshwater.
4. They have characteristics of both animals and plants.
5. Mode of nutrition- autotrophic as well as heterotrophic(get nutrients by phagocytosis), parasitic, and symbiont (with red algae).
6. They are known to cause red tides.
7. Example- Peridinium, Gymnodinium, etc.
8. Some species have their chloroplasts and can carry out photosynthesis, like plants.
9. They have a sexual mode of reproduction.
10. Many species are heterotrophic. Some species are parasitic, like animals.