Pyrocystis lunala syn Dissodinium pseudolunula

This genus has an unusual and complicated life history. Its dominant vegatative stage is a large, planktonic bladder-shaped cell. This bladder cell can be spherical, fusiform, lanceolate, or cresent shaped. They can be armored or unarmored, nonflagellated, uniflagellated or biflagellated. Chloroplasts are present in all stages. Some are biluminescent. See Tomas and Horner for more information.