General Species Descriptions
These brief descriptions of HAB species provide general information about each organism as well as scanning electron micrographs of the species.
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Alexandrium monilatum (43KB)
This toxic species has been known to bloom in Tampa Bay and in coastal waters.
Chattonella subsalsa (51KB)
This species is found in Florida inshore waters and can produce the same toxins produced by the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis.
Dinophysis caudata (26KB)
This species produces toxins that can cause diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP).
Gambierdiscus toxicus (34KB)
This is Florida's second most problematic HAB species. It produces the toxin that causes ciguatera fish poisoning.
Gonyaulax grindleyi (45KB)
This toxic species is a beautifully sculpted, armored cell with a reticulation pattern that almost hides its plate pattern.
Gonyaulax polygramma (109KB)
Gonyaulax polygramma has vertical linear markings that help identify it. This species is nontoxic but can cause low dissolved oxygen and fish kills.
Karenia brevis (28KB)
This toxic species is the most common cause of Florida's red tides.
Karenia mikimotoi (20KB)
Karenia mikimotoi is toxic and is often mistaken for K. brevis, Florida's red tide organism.
Karenia brevis and Karenia mikimotoi—A Comparison (68KB)
Karenia brevis, Florida's red tide organism, and Karenia mikimotoi are closely related, but the two species are different morphologically.
Lingulodinium polyedrum (26KB)
This toxic species often blooms off the coast of California.
Prorocentrum lima (36KB)
This toxic species is associated with diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP).
Protoperidinium quinquecorne (44KB)
This species is not toxic, but it can cause fish kills.
Pseudo-nitzschia pseudodelicatissima (36KB)
Pseudo-nitzschia pseudodelicatissima is a potentially toxic diatom found in coastal waters of the U.S., Canada, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum and Pyrodinium bahamense var. bahamense—A Comparison (109KB)
The two varieties of the species Pyrodinium bahamense are both bioluminescent—they produce their own light—yet they differ in other ways.
Takayama pulchella (30KB)
This toxic species can bloom in estuaries.
