Dinoflagellate

Dinophysis acuminata

Claparède and Lachmann 1859

Dinophysis borealis Paulsen 1949, Dinophysis lachmanni Paulsen 1949, Dinophysis boemi Paulsen 1949lachmanni Solum 1962, D. simplex Böhm 1933.

Description

The Dinophysis genus can be easily identified by the double collars (known as cingulum) around the top of the cell, and a further wing (known as the sulcus) running vertically down the cell.
Several species of Dinophysis have been shown to cause Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) and are known as Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) species (Larsen & Moestrup, 1992).
On CPR samples seven species which have been shown or are suspected toxin producers are recorded. These species are D.acuminata, D.acuta, D.caudata, D.norvegica, D.rotundata, D.sacculus and D.tripos. This allows the CPR data to be used for assessing HAB species and commenced in January 2004.
Dinophysis acuminata
Dinophysis acuminata cells are oval, widest at the middle and strongly laterally flattened. The hypotheca is covered by small pores. Small protruberances are sometimes present at the posterior end of the cell. (Montagnes 2003)
Linked to diarrhetic shellfish poisoning
Ecology: Occurs in polyhaline (brackish) waters
Life form: Often found in pairs


CPR:1601ITIS:9938WORMS:109603

Distribution and Abundance

Distribution 1958-1999 for all Dinophysis species

Worldwide distribution

Spring - Summer dominence



Image Identification not guaranteed. Contact gbrice@sahfos.ac.uk - last updated on Tuesday, November 16, 2010