title: PROROCENTRUM BIMACULATUM SP. NOV. (DINOPHYCEAE, PROROCENTRALES), A NEW BENTHIC DINOFLAGELLATE SPECIES FROM KUWAIT (ARABIAN GULF)(1).
abstract: A new benthic dinoflagellate species, Prorocentrum bimaculatum sp. nov., is studied from Kuwait's marine sediments, based on detailed morphological and molecular data. Cells are large, oblong oval in shape. They are 49.9-55.3 μm long and 38.4-43.2 μm wide. The ornamentation of this new species is peculiar, and characterized by smooth valves with large pores (0.32-0.50 μm) scattered on their surface, except in two circular patches of ∼15 μm in diameter, devoid of ornamentation and located on both sides of the valve centers. The periflagellar area is widely triangular, located in a moderate excavation of the right valve, and comprises nine platelets. The intercalary band of P. bimaculatum is smooth. The molecular phylogenetic position of this new taxon was inferred from SSU and LSU rDNA genes. In both phylogenetic analyses, P. bimaculatum branched with high support with Prorocentrum consutum and formed a clade sister to the one including P. lima and related species such as P. arenarium, P. belizeanum, P. hoffmannianum, and P. maculosum. From the phylogenetic study, since most species related to P. bimaculatum are known for their toxic effects and production of okadaic acid, this new species can be considered as a potential toxin producer, but this has to be analyzed.
authors.affiliation: IFREMER, Station de Concarneau, place de la Croix, 29900 Concarneau, France Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas, Pr. Nakhimova, 2, 99011, Sevastopol, Ukraine Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Oceanography and Fisheries Research Program, Aquaculture, Fisheries and Marine Environment Dept., P.O. Box 1638, 22017 Salmiya, KuwaitIFREMER, Station de Concarneau, place de la Croix, 29900 Concarneau, FranceKuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Oceanography and Fisheries Research Program, Aquaculture, Fisheries and Marine Environment Dept., P.O. Box 1638, 22017 Salmiya, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chomérat
authors.affiliation: IFREMER, Station de Concarneau, place de la Croix, 29900 Concarneau, France Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas, Pr. Nakhimova, 2, 99011, Sevastopol, Ukraine Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Oceanography and Fisheries Research Program, Aquaculture, Fisheries and Marine Environment Dept., P.O. Box 1638, 22017 Salmiya, KuwaitIFREMER, Station de Concarneau, place de la Croix, 29900 Concarneau, FranceKuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Oceanography and Fisheries Research Program, Aquaculture, Fisheries and Marine Environment Dept., P.O. Box 1638, 22017 Salmiya, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saburova
authors.affiliation: IFREMER, Station de Concarneau, place de la Croix, 29900 Concarneau, France Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas, Pr. Nakhimova, 2, 99011, Sevastopol, Ukraine Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Oceanography and Fisheries Research Program, Aquaculture, Fisheries and Marine Environment Dept., P.O. Box 1638, 22017 Salmiya, KuwaitIFREMER, Station de Concarneau, place de la Croix, 29900 Concarneau, FranceKuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Oceanography and Fisheries Research Program, Aquaculture, Fisheries and Marine Environment Dept., P.O. Box 1638, 22017 Salmiya, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Gwenaël
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bilien
authors.affiliation: IFREMER, Station de Concarneau, place de la Croix, 29900 Concarneau, France Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas, Pr. Nakhimova, 2, 99011, Sevastopol, Ukraine Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Oceanography and Fisheries Research Program, Aquaculture, Fisheries and Marine Environment Dept., P.O. Box 1638, 22017 Salmiya, KuwaitIFREMER, Station de Concarneau, place de la Croix, 29900 Concarneau, FranceKuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Oceanography and Fisheries Research Program, Aquaculture, Fisheries and Marine Environment Dept., P.O. Box 1638, 22017 Salmiya, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Faiza
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Al-Yamani
keywords: Arabian Gulf; Kuwait; Prorocentrum; SEM; benthic dinoflagellates; molecular phylogeny; morphology, nuclear DNA; rDNA; taxonomy