spines
Astrolithium (astro-lith-ee-um) is one of the more commonly encountered acantharea. These star-shaped organisms used to be grouped with polycystines and phaeodarea as radiolaria. These three groups all have inorganic skeletons to which the cytoplasm attaches, usually have an inner condensed area of cytoplasm and an outer more open region, and have a star-like morphology. Like other acantharea, the spines of Astrolithium are made of strontium salts which readily dissolve when the cells die. There are 20 radiating spines which are linked together at the centre of the cell. The symbiotic dinoflagellates which give the acantharea an orange or brown colour can be seen here. Differential interference contrast. This image was taken from a sedimented sample of seawater taken near the shoreline in the region of Woods Hole, in Vineyard Sound; the collecting and photographic team included David Patterson, Linda Amaral Zettler, Mike Peglar and Tom Nerad. Image copyright: David Patterson, Linda Amaral Zettler, Mike Peglar and Tom Nerad, image used under license to MBL (micro*scope).
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Astrolithium
From the collection
Waters of Vineyard Sound
No description of Astrolithium available.
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