vs

Chrysochromulina acantha compared with Chrysochromulina megacylindra

Taxonomic Classification

Rank
Kingdom same	Chromista (Chromista)	Chromista (Chromista)
Phylum same	Haptophyta (Haptophyta)	Haptophyta (Haptophyta)
Class same	Prymnesiophyceae (Prymnesiophyceae)	Prymnesiophyceae (Prymnesiophyceae)
Order same	Prymnesiales (Prymnesiales)	Prymnesiales (Prymnesiales)
Family same	Chrysochromulinaceae	Chrysochromulinaceae
Genus same	Chrysochromulina	Chrysochromulina
Species	Chrysochromulina acantha	Chrysochromulina megacylindra

Evolutionary Relationship

and share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Chrysochromulina.

Afficher Genus: Chrysochromulina

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Norway and Sweden.

Habitat

Native to Europe and South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Brazil, Norway, and Sweden.

Chrysochromulina acantha is a microscopic marine haptophyte alga belonging to the family Prymnesiaceae. Like other members of the genus Chrysochromulina, it possesses two flagella of unequal length and a unique organelle called the haptonema, which is used for prey capture and surface attachment. The cell surface is covered with organic scales arranged in overlapping layers, a diagnostic feature of the genus. C. acantha is a unicellular phytoplankton found in coastal and open-ocean environments, contributing to marine primary productivity. Members of this genus are known from temperate and cold-water seas of the Northern Hemisphere, particularly Scandinavian coastal waters. Some Chrysochromulina species can form dense blooms under favorable nutrient conditions, occasionally producing toxic compounds harmful to fish and invertebrates. The species has not been formally assessed by the IUCN, and its conservation status remains Not Evaluated. As a free-living microorganism, it does not face the same threats as larger organisms, though shifts in ocean chemistry and temperature may influence its distribution and abundance over time.

Chrysochromulina megacylindra is a unicellular marine haptophyte microalga in the genus Chrysochromulina, class Prymnesiophyceae, order Prymnesiales. The species epithet megacylindra — from Greek meaning large cylinder — refers to a prominent cylindrical element of the cell's scale ornamentation, distinguishing it from related species such as C. brachycylindra, whose epithet denotes a short cylinder, and C. microcylindra, with a small cylinder. This naming pattern reflects the systematic use of scale morphology to differentiate species within the genus. C. megacylindra has been recorded from Norwegian and Swedish coastal marine waters, contributing to the known diversity of Chrysochromulina in northern Atlantic environments. The species inhabits the photic zone of coastal marine systems, where it functions as a photosynthetic primary producer. Chrysochromulina cells in this size class typically range from five to twenty micrometers in greatest dimension and are counted among the nanoplankton — a size fraction particularly important in oligotrophic and post-bloom marine ecosystems. The coiling haptonema of C. megacylindra, like that of all Chrysochromulina species, likely assists in prey capture or substrate attachment, enabling mixotrophic nutrition in environments where dissolved nutrients are limiting. The species has not been assessed under IUCN criteria and is classified as Not Evaluated. Its documentation contributes to understanding the high species richness within Chrysochromulina and the role of nanoplankton diversity in northern European marine ecosystems.