Two new marine species of Gymnodinium isolated from the Plymouth area

Abstract

The two new species, Gymnodinium vitiligo and G. veneficum, which are described below, are both small and highly motile, and in other respects very similar. The greatest difference between them is physiological, as G. vitiligo is harmless, whereas G. veneficum produces a very powerful toxin which is lethal to fish. There are also small morphological differences which are visible when the organisms are in culture, confirming the existence of two separate species.