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Glite Dictionary
Peridiniidae

Peridiniidae

9.9
A group of tiny single-celled water organisms with hard cell coverings found in sea or fresh water
  • noun
  • /ˌpɛrɪˈdɪniˌaɪdi/
  • Specialized
: Peridiniidae
  • Under the microscope, various species within Peridiniidae display unique cell wall structures.

Examples

  • Scientists collected samples of Peridiniidae from both the river and the lake for their research.

  • Blooms of Peridiniidae can significantly change the composition of plankton communities.

  • The Peridiniidae family includes many species of dinoflagellates.

  • Some Peridiniidae are bioluminescent, creating stunning displays at night.

  • In coastal waters, blooms of Peridiniidae can greatly affect local marine ecosystems.

  • Researchers found that species of Peridiniidae thrive in both saline and freshwater habitats.

  • The unique cell coverings of Peridiniidae often help scientists identify different species under a microscope.

Surface Forms

Peridiniidae singular
Peridiniidaes plural

Morphology

Peridiniidae = Peridinium (semi-transparent) = Peridinium + idae

Formed by the standard taxonomic suffix '-idae' attached to the genus name 'Peridinium'; transparent to those familiar with biological nomenclature but specialized for general learners.

Etymology

Peridiniidae takes its name from the genus Peridinium plus the family ending -idae. A helpful way to remember it is that peri- means 'around', as in perimeter, and -idae marks a biological 'family' (as in Canidae for dogs), so Peridiniidae is the family group of Peridinium — a set of related, often armored, tiny plankton cells.