Second, Dinoflagellate Luciferin is thought to be derived from chlorophyll because it has similar structure and is found in dinoflagellates and euphasiid shrimp. The third type, Vargulin, is found in the ostracod Vargula and is also used by the midshipman fish Poricthys. This is an interesting dietary link because the fish can not luminesce until they are fed luciferin bearing food. The fifth is firefly luciferin, which requires ATP as a cofactor in its reactions. Dinoflagellates Dinoflagellates are the most common source of bioluminescence and are also known as Pyrrophyta or fire plants.
Dinoflagellates are motile and swim by two flagella, which are movable protein strands.
The longitudinal flagella extends from the sulcal groove at the posterior part of the cell and is responsible for the cells forward movement. The flattened flagella extends from the cingulum groove around the equator of the cell and provides the dinoflagellate with the ability to maneuver. Because of these two flagella, the dinoflagellate spirals when it moves. Dinoflagellates are usually covered by cellulose plates. The cell is surrounded by a series of membranes called the amphiesma.