Prymnesium lepailleurii sp. nov. (Prymnesiophyceae), a new littoral flagellate from the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

Given the ever increasing importance of coastal aquaculture in the Mediterranean Sea, documenting new and potentially toxic microalgal species from Mediterranean waters is clearly an important goal for algal research. A culture of Prymnesium lepailleurii sp. nov. was isolated from a sample taken in coastal waters of Tunisia (south-west Mediterranean). This species has two subequal heterodynamic flagella and a flexible haptonema. The cell body is covered by layers of two types of scales: proximal (body) scales which have a radial pattern of fibrils on both faces, and distal scales which have the same radial pattern on their proximal side, but lack ornamentation on their distal face. The body scales have a narrow inflexed rim, while scales in the single outer layer have an upright peripheral rim. Preliminary tests indicate that P. lepailleurii is a toxic species. © 2007 British Phycological Society.