Family: Cell body rounded, exceptionally asymmetric in shape; delimited only by plasma membrane (cellwall absent), in most species, posterior part of cell changeable in shape; 2 or 4 flagella present; chloroplast variable in shape; papilla absent; stigma present or absent; some groups lack chloroplasts; inhabiting freshwater and seawater (Süßwasserflora von Mitteleuropa 9, Chlorophyta I, 1983).
Genus: Cell body naked (without cellwall or lorica); oval or elliptical; dicentrically symmetrical; 2 equal-length flagella; chloroplast bowl-shaped or parietal plate, often colored red or orange owing to excess carotenoid pigments; stigma present in most species; 2 anterior contractile vacuoles; fresh water (Illustrated Guide, 1985).
Cell body ellipsoidal, ovoid, or inverted ovoid, or variable in shape; tail-like structure present in some species; two flagella present; chloroplast cup-shaped or "trough"-shaped; pyrenoids present/absent; stigma also present/absent; many species accumulate haematochromes outside plastid; nucleus located anteriorly (Süßwasserflora von Mitteleuropa 9, Chlorophyta I, 1983).
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D. salina
11 x 6 μm
???, 2001
Dunaliella sp. ?
25 x 9 μm
Saitama, 1997
