Taxonomic Group: | Dinoflagellate |
Trophic Status: | Autotrophic |
Size Range: | 34.2-47.5 μm wide x 41.8-57.5 μm long (LUMCON Guide); 38-58 μm long (Dodge 1982); 30-35 μm wide x 38-50 μm long (Horner 2002) |
Key Characteristics: | Cell more or less oval with rounded posterior, sometimes with small antapical protuberances on the hypotheca; cell length slightly greater than width; left sulcal list supported by three ribs and extending down slightly over half the length of the cell; thecal surface areolate; chloroplasts present but food vacuoles have also been observed so mixotrophy might also occur |
Confused With: | Dinophysis ovum, which has a length to width ratio closer to 1, and thus a rounder body with widest diameter right at the middle of the cell; also, the sulcal list of D. ovum extends to less than or equal to the mid length of the cell; also could be confused with select other species of Dinophysis; see p. 429 in Tomas 1997 for details |
Toxin: | Okadaic acid |
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