Biceratium Vanhöffen, 1896

Holotype species: Biceratium furca (Ehrenberg) Vanhoeffen

Currently accepted name for the type species: Tripos furca (Ehrenberg) F.Gómez

Original publication and holotype designation: Vanhöffen E. (1896). Das Genus Ceratium. Zoologischer Anzeiger 19: 133-134.

Description: Large and slender (200-to-300 x 40-to-60 µm) dorsoventrally compress, thecate , biflagellated heterodynamic flagellates, shape like a fork with a long apical horn and 2 shorter, subequal posteriorly directed antapical horns. The transverse flagellum encircles the main body in a circular cingulum, the second flagellum is dircted posteriorly. The plate formula is identical to that of Ceratium Schrank, therefore it is regarded as subgenus or sectio of Ceratium. Vegetative reproduction by binary fission, sexual reproduction by fusion of anisogametes; planozygote with 2 longitudinal flagella. Cysts not known. Marine, planktonic, worldwide except the Antarctic Ocean; mainly coastal, may be so abundant that it discolors sea water.

Information kindly contributed by M. Elbrächter but may now be outdated.

Taxonomic status: This name is currently regarded as a synonym of Ceratium.

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Kawai, H. & Nakayama, T. (2015). Introduction (Heterokontobionta p.p.), Cryptophyta, Dinophyta, Haptophyta, Heterokontophyta (except Coscinodiscophyceae, Mediophyceae, Fragilariophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Phaeophyceae, Eustigmatophyceae), Chlorarachniophyta, Euglenophyta. In: Syllabus of plant families. Adolf Engler's Syllabus der Pflanzenfamilien. Ed. 13. Phototrophic eukaryotic Algae. Glaucocystophyta, Cryptophyta, Dinophyta/Dinozoa, Haptophyta, Heterokontophyta/Ochrophyta, Chlorarachnniophyta/Cercozoa, Chlorophyta, Streptophyta p.p. (Frey, W. Eds), pp. 11-64, 103-139. Stuttgart: Borntraeger Science Publishers.

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Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in CD format. These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above. The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.

Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.

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Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 24 May 2017. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 19 April 2024