Living cells (BF)
Life-form: Solitary
Size: Length 54-94 µm, width 43-60 µm.
Resting spore:
Note: Width here = dorso-ventral depth. Dimorphic cells have been observed (Hansen 1993a). This species has been associated with DSP outbreaks (Larsen & Moestrup 1992)
Distinctive features: The cells are widest below the middle
Similar species: Dinophysis norvegica
Distribution: Worldwide
Literature:
Drebes, G. 1974. Marines Phytoplankton, Eine Auswahl der
Helgoländer Planktonalgen (Diatomeen, Peridineen). Georg Thieme
Verlag, Stuttgart. 186 pp.
Hansen, G. 1993a. Dimorphic individuals of Dinophysis acuta and D. norvegica (Dinophyceae) from Danish waters. Phycologia. 32: 73-75.
Hansen, G. & Larsen, J. 1992. Dinoflagellater i danske farvande. In: Thomsen, H. A. (ed.) Plankton i de indre danske farvande. Havforskning fra Miljøstyrelsen, Copenhagen, p. 45-155.
Larsen, J. & Moestrup, Ø. 1992. Potentially toxic phytoplankton. 2. Genus Dinophysis (Dinophyceae). In: Lindley, J. A. (ed.) ICES Identification leaflets for plankton. International Council for the exploration of the sea, Copenhagen, p. 1-12.
Steidinger, K. A. & Tangen, K. 1996. Dinoflagellates. In: Tomas, C. R. (ed.) Identifying marine diatoms and dinoflagellates. Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, p. 387-584.