Chrysodidymus synuroideus. Synura synuroidea

Chrysodidymus synuroideus is a single known species of genus Chrysodidymus. It is a unicellular organism with cells 5-10 mkm in length. It is found in acidic bogs in Asia, Australia and the Americas. The cells are covered with delicately-sculptured scales that are made of amorphous silica. They are usually found in pairs, interpreted as two-celled colonies. Cells range from ovate to narrowly ellipsoidal. Each cell has two flagella of unequal length at the anterior end. They contain one centrally-located nucleus and, usually, two plate-like, parietal, golden-colored chloroplasts that do not contain pyrenoids. Cells in stationary phase may develop a reddish pigmentation. The mitochondrial genome of Chrysodidymus synuroideus has been sequenced. It is 34,119 bp circular molecule that contains 58 genes. The gene sequence has been analyzed and used to compare with mitochondria from other photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic stramenopiles.