Alexandrium minutum Halim 1960

Publication Details
Alexandrium minutum Halim 1960: 101, fig. 1 a-g

Published in: Halim, Y. (1960). Alexandrium minutum, n. gen. n. sp. dinoflagellé provocant des "eaux rouges". Vie et Milieu 11: 102-105, 1 fig..

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Type Species
This is the type species (holotype) of the genus Alexandrium.

Status of Name
This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

Type Information
Type locality: Mediterranean Sea: Alexandra Harbour, Egypt; (Faust & Gulledge 2002: 13) Holotype: (Faust & Gulledge 2002: 13)

Origin of Species Name
Adjective (Latin), very small, minute (Stearn 1983).

General Environment
This is a marine species.

Description
Balech (1989: 206) notes the following descriptive information about this species: Small species, somewhat irregularly oval, sometimes a little longer than wide. Neither spines nor horns present. Cingulum deeply excavated, its right end displaced posteriorly one cingular width. Apical pore plate (Po) large, with a central foramen shaped like a comma. Rhomboidal first apical plate in direct or indirect contact (by a thread-like process of variable length) with Po. Sixth precingular narrow. Sulcus shallow. Posterior sulcal plate (S.p.) wider than long. Thin thecal walls. A very faint, irregular and incomplete reticulum is often seen in some plates, especially in the S.p. and the 1. Length: usually 17-29 µm. The same paper contains extensive observations and discussion and 27 figs.

Created: 07 May 2002 by M.D. Guiry.

Last updated: 28 May 2024

Verification of Data
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Taxonomic note
Costas et al. (1995: 801-807) contains a discussion of the synonymy of this species and Alexandrium lusitanicum Balech.

Balech (1995: 27) regards Alexandrium lusitanicum as a separate species. - (11 May 2006) - G.M. Guiry

Usage note
Armoured, marine, planktonic dinoflagellate. Widely distributed and associated with Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) blooms in coastal regions. Faust & Gulledge (2002: 13) notes this species is a strong producer of PSP gonyautoxins (GTX): GTX1, GTX2 and GTX3, which can affect humans, mammals, birds and possibly fish. Please consult original reference for further details. Harmful species.

Link to identifying harmful dinoflagellates pages

- (11 May 2006) - G.M. Guiry

Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=52068

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 28 May 2024. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 29 March 2025

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