Noctiluca

Marine dinoflagellate (characterized by the possession of two flagella) protozoan.

Together with other dinoflagellates, it is responsible for the phenomenon known as the ‘red tide’ where, if the conditions are right, the increase in the numbers of dinoflagellates is so massive as to discolour the sea during the day, usually red, but sometimes green or brown, and give a spectacular phosphorescence at night.

Classification Noctiluca is in the order Dinoflagellida of the class Phytomastigophora, subphylum Mastigophora, phylum Sarcomastigophora.