Definition:
Dinoflagellates are a type of single-celled plankton that have two whip-like tails, or flagella, that they use to swim.
There are about 2,000 species of dinoflagellates (Source: UCMP Berkeley).
They include:
- Zooxanthellae, which give coral its color.
- Species such as Gonyaulax, Gymnodinium and Alexandrium, which can cause 'red tide,' or harmful algal blooms (HABs).
- Bioluminescence, the startling chemical reaction that causes these organisms to glow.
