One source states the taxonomy as: Kingdom Chromista, Phylum Miozoa, Class Dinophyceae, Order Gonyaulacales, and Family Ceratiaceae.

[3] Another source lists the taxonomy as Kingdom Protozoa, Phylum Dinoflagellata, Class Dinophyceae, Order Gonyaulacales, and Family Ceratiaceae.

[5] Ceratium species belong to the group of dinoflagellates known as dinophysiales, meaning they contain armored plates.

[7] Species of Ceratium contain two flagella of different lengths that are orientated in the transverse and longitudinal positions.

[2] Species of Ceratium have other structures called chromatophores, which contain red, brown, and yellow pigments used for photosynthesis.

[4] Ceratium dinoflagellates have a unique adaptation that allows them to store compounds in a vacuole that they can use for growth when nutrients become unavailable.

[10] Another adaptation that helps growth includes the ability to extend appendages during the day which contain chloroplasts to absorb light for photosynthesis.

At night, these organisms retract these appendages and move to deeper layers of the water column.

As lakes and ponds stratify in the summer due to a decrease in mixing, freshwater species of Ceratium tend to dominate the water column.

[2] Worldwide, especially in higher latitudes, the frequency of red tides has increased, which may be due to human impacts on the coasts in terms of pollution.

[2] As a result, dead fish from the oxygen-depleted water wash up on beaches, much to the dismay of people at resorts and hotels.

[16] Due to this behavior, species of Ceratium are used as biological indicators because the deeper they are found in the water column, the greater the impact from global warming.