Velella - Planktonic Vessels Colonies of polyps transported by prevailing winds, velella drift at the surface of warm seas.
Dinoflagellate Ceratium ranipes grd mains (Photo : Sophie Marro)
Average chlorophyll concentration in the surface ocean (from mi-September 1997 to August 2007) from the ocean color sensor SeaWiFS (NASA). Subtropical gyres, in the center of the oceanic basins, are characterized by very low concentrations of chlorophyll a (dark blue) - Source : NASA's Earth Observatory (http:/earthobservatory.nasa.gov)
Dinoflagellate Ceratium teresgyr (Photo : Sophie Marro)
Salpes - La vie enchaînée Bien que d’apparence primitive, les salpes sont de proches ancêtres des poissons. Lorsque les algues abondent, les salpes prolifèrent en de longues chaînes d’individus clonés.
Dinoflagellates Ceratium platycorne var platycorne (Photo : Sophie Marro)
Siphonophores - The longest animals on the planet Cousins of corals, siphonophores are colonies of specialized individuals called zoids. Some catch and digest their prey, others swim, or lay eggs or sperm.
