Morphology and toxicology of Prorocentrum arabianum sp. nov., (dinophyceae) a toxic planktonic dinoflagellate from the Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea

A new species of planktonic dinoflagellate, Prorocentrum arabianum isolated from the Gulf of Oman, is described using both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy. This clonal isolate has the following morphological characteristics: (1) cell shape is asymmetric; (2) thecal surface is rugose, covered with small poroids; (3) periflagellar area is unornamented, and (4) intercalary band is horizontally striated. Analysis of P. arabianum confirms the production of one cytotoxic compound and one ichthyotoxic compound. P. arabianum is the second known toxic planktonic Prorocentroid dinoflagellate.