Invisible Oceans Founder's Collection: Invisible Oceans #78: Pyrocystis I

The dinoflagellate, single-celled Pyrocystis is aptly named. It is often associated with lighting up the breaking surf on tropical shores. The two individuals here are in the process of dividing their nuclei prior to finally splitting the outer envelope also into two, or discarding it altogether and forming a new one. These jewel-like entities bob around very close to the ocean surface and unlike some close relatives have no discernible means of locomotion, yet do seem to conform to the planktonic diurnal rhythm of migrating into lower waters by day and rising close to the surface by night.

Bermuda (1978)

Nikon F2 | Custom Optics | Kodachrome 64