Dinoflagellate List

***Note:  Some salinity data for the following species were not found at the time of web publication***
Gyrodinium galatheanum
Temperature Range: 11-16 °C

Animal Impact: Possible fish kills in nature and fish farms
Human Impact: Unknown
Distribution: Norway, Pacific northwest, Maryland, Florida, and Texas


 
Pfiesteriaspecies
Temperature Range: 4-26 °C

Salinity Range: 0-32 parts per thousand (ppt)
Animal Impact: Tropical aquarium fish kills
Human Impact: Unknown
Distribution: Unknown in natural waters (isolated in a tropical seawater aquarium)


 
Prorocentrum hoffmannianum
Temperature Range: 20-30 °C

Animal Impact: Unknown- possible tumor formations
Human Impact: Associated with Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP)
Distribution: Belize to North Florida


 
Pfiesteria piscicida
Temperature Range: 12-33 °C

Salinity Range: 0-35 parts per thousand (ppt)
Animal Impact: Fish and invertebrate kills
Human Impact: Respiratory problems, skin rash, memory loss, learning disabilities.
Distribution: Maryland and North Carolina


 
Gymnodinium breve
Temperature Range: 10-33 °C

Salinity Range: 24-37 parts per thousand (ppt)
Animal Impact: Fish kills, bird and manatee mortalities.
Human Impact: Respiratory irritations, contact dermatitis, associated with Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning (NSP)
Distribution: Gulf coasts to the Mid-Atlantic states


 
Chattonella subsalsa
*NOTE:  This species is actually a raphidophyte, not a dinoflagellate
Temperature Range: 22-26 °C

Salinity Range: lower
Animal Impact: Fish kills in fish farms
Human Impact: Unknown
Distribution: Eutrophic Mediterranean regions, Eastern US, India, Japan


 
Prorocentrum lima
Temperature Range: 11-26 °C

Animal Impact: Unknown-possible tumor formation
Human Impact: Unknown-associated with Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP)
Distribution: Florida to Texas

Gymnodinium pulchellum
Temperature Range:

Animal Impact: Fish kills
Human Impact: Possible respiratory irritation
Distribution: Japan, Australia, Mediterranean, Florida


 
Alexandrium monilatum

Temperature Range: 27 °C
Salinity Range: 34 parts per thousand (ppt)
Animal Impact: Fish & invertebrate kills
Human Impact: Unknown
Distribution: Venezuela, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Chesapeake Bay


 
 
 
 
 
Gambierdiscus toxicus
Temperature Range: 24-30 °C

Animal Impact: Fish kills on SE coast of Florida
Human Impact: Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP)
Distribution: Cosmopolitan in shallow tropical waters, reefs and lagoons