''Gambierdiscus polynesiensis'' is a species of toxic (
ciguatoxin
image:ciguatoxin.svg, 300px, Chemical structure of the ciguatoxin CTX1B
Ciguatoxins are a class of toxic Polycyclic compound, polycyclic polyethers found in fish that cause ciguatera.
There are several different chemicals in this class. "CTX" ...
- and
maitotoxin
Maitotoxin (or MTX) is an extremely powerful biotoxin produced by ''Gambierdiscus toxicus'', a dinoflagellate species. Maitotoxin has been shown to be more than one hundred thousand times more potent than VX nerve agent. Maitotoxin is so potent t ...
-like toxicity)
dinoflagellate
The dinoflagellates (Greek δῖνος ''dinos'' "whirling" and Latin ''flagellum'' "whip, scourge") are a monophyletic group of single-celled eukaryotes constituting the phylum Dinoflagellata and are usually considered algae. Dinoflagellates are ...
. It is 68–85
μm
The micrometre ( international spelling as used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures; SI symbol: μm) or micrometer (American spelling), also commonly known as a micron, is a unit of length in the International System of Unit ...
long and 64–75 μm wide dorsoventrally and its surface is smooth. It is identified by a large triangular apical pore plate, a narrow fish-hook opening surrounded by 38 round pores, and a large, broad posterior intercalary plate. Its first plate occupies 60% of the width of the
hypotheca
Hypothec (; german: Hypothek, french: hypothèque, pl, hipoteka, from Lat. ''hypotheca'', from Gk. : hypothēkē), sometimes tacit hypothec, is a term used in civil law systems (e.g. law of entire Continental Europe except Gibraltar) or mixed ...
.
References
Further reading
*
*
*Rossini, Gian Paolo, ed. Toxins and Biologically Active Compounds from Microalgae. Vol. 1. CRC Press, 2014.
External links
*
AlgaeBase
Gonyaulacales
Species described in 1999
{{dinoflagellate-stub