Higher Classification: > Kingdom Chromista > Subkingdom Harosa > Infrakingdom Alveolata > Phylum Myzozoa > Subphylum Dinozoa > Infraphylum Dinoflagellata > Class Dinophyceae > Subclass Peridiniphycidae > Order Gonyaulacales > Family Pyrocystaceae > Subfamily Ostreopsidoideae > Genus Alexandrium

Alexandrium catenella (Whedon & Kofoid) Balech, 1985

Rank: Species
Taxon Status: accepted

Relationships towards this taxon

Genus group names

*Alexandrium*	Halim, 1960	accepted genus name
*Gessnerium*	Halim ex Halim, 1967	synonym
*Protogonyaulax*	F.J.R.Taylor, 1979	synonym

Species group names

*Gonyaulax catenella*	Whedon & Kofoid, 1936	basionym
*Alexandrium fundyense*	Balech, 1985	synonym
*Gonyaulax excavata*	(Braarud) Balech, 1971	synonym
*Gonyaulax tamarensis var. excavata*	T.Braarud, 1945	synonym

Literature

basis of record	Gómez, F. (2005). A list of free-living dinoflagellate species in the world's oceans. Acta Bot. Croat. 64(1): 129-212.
additional source	Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. (2025). AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. searched on YYYY-MM-DD.
additional source	Balech, E. (2002). Dinoflagelados tecados tóxicos en el Cono Sur Americano. In: Sar, E.A., Ferrario, M.E. & Reguera, B. (Eds.). Floraciones Algales Nocivas en el Cono Sur Americano. Instituto Español de Oceanografía. pp. 123-144.
additional source	Chang, F.H.; Charleston, W.A.G.; McKenna, P.B.; Clowes, C.D.; Wilson, G.J.; Broady, P.A. (2012). Phylum Myzozoa: dinoflagellates, perkinsids, ellobiopsids, sporozoans, in: Gordon, D.P. (Ed.) (2012). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: 3. Kingdoms Bacteria, Protozoa, Chromista, Plantae, Fungi. pp. 175-216.
additional source	Zenetos, A., M.E. Cinar, M.A. Pancucci-Papadopoulou, J.G. Harmelin, G. Furnari, F. Andaloro, N. Bellou, N. Streftaris & H. Zibrowius. (2005). Annotated list of marine alien species in the Mediterranean with records of the worst invasive species. Mediterranean Marine Science. 6 (2): 63-118.
additional source	Miranda, L. N.; Zhuang, Y.; Zhang, H.; Lin, S. (2012). Phylogenetic analysis guided by intragenomic SSU rDNA polymorphism refines classification of “Alexandrium tamarense” species complex. Harmful Algae. 16: 35-48.
additional source	Wang, L.; Zhuang, Y.; Zhang, H.; Lin, X.; Lin, S. (2014). DNA barcoding species in Alexandrium tamarense complex using ITS and proposing designation of five species. Harmful Algae. 31: 100-113.
additional source	Lutaenko, K.A.; Furota, T.; Nakayama; S.; Shin, K.; Xu, J. (2013). Atlas of Marine Invasive Species in the NOWPAP Region. Beijing: NOWPAP DINRAC (Northwest Pacific Action Plan, Data and Information Network Regional Center). 189 pp.
additional source	Prud'homme van Reine, Willem F. (2017). Report of the Nomenclature Committee for Algae: 15. Taxon. 66(1): 191–192; February 2017.
additional source	Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). Checklist of marine biota of China seas. China Science Press. 1267 pp.
additional source	Tomas, C.R. (Ed.). (1997). Identifying marine phytoplankton. Academic Press: San Diego, CA [etc.] (USA). ISBN 0-12-693018-X. XV, 858 pp.
new combination reference	Balech, E. (1985). The genus Alexandrium or Gonyaulax of the tamarensis group. In: D.M. Anderson, A.W. White and D.G. Baden (Eds.) Toxic Dinoflagellates. New York: Elsevier. P. 33–38.
toxicology source	Bates H.A., Kostriken R. & Rapoport H. 1978. The occurrence of saxitoxin and other toxins in various dinoflagellates. Toxicon 16: 595-601.
toxicology source	Aguilera-Belmonte, A.; Inostroza, I.; Franco, J. M.; Riobó, P.; Gómez, P. I. (2011). The growth, toxicity and genetic characterization of seven strains of Alexandrium catenella (Whedon and Kofoid) Balech 1985 (Dinophyceae) isolated during the 2009 summer outbreak in southern Chile. Harmful Algae. 12: 105-112.
toxicology source	Burke J.M., Marchisotto J., McLaughlin J.J.A. & Provasoli L. 1960. Analysis of the toxin produced by Gonyaulax catenella in axenic culture. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 90: 837-842.
ecology source	Nygaard, K.; Tobiesen, A. (1993). Bacterivory in algae: A survival strategy during nutrient limitation. Limnology and Oceanography. 38(2): 273-279.
ecology source	Jeong, H.; Yoo, Y.; Park, J.; Song, J.; Kim, S.; Lee, S.; Kim, K.; Yih, W. (2005). Feeding by phototrophic red-tide dinoflagellates: five species newly revealed and six species previously known to be mixotrophic. Aquatic Microbial Ecology. 40: 133-150.
ecology source	Jeong, H.; Park, J.; Nho, J.; Park, M.; Ha, J.; Seong, K.; Jeng, C.; Seong, C.; Lee, K.; Yih, W. (2005). Feeding by red-tide dinoflagellates on the cyanobacterium Synechococcus. Aquatic Microbial Ecology. 41: 131-143.
ecology source	Leles, S. G.; Mitra, A.; Flynn, K. J.; Tillmann, U.; Stoecker, D.; Jeong, H. J.; Burkholder, J.; Hansen, P. J.; Caron, D. A.; Glibert, P. M.; Hallegraeff, G.; Raven, J. A.; Sanders, R. W.; Zubkov, M. (2019). Sampling bias misrepresents the biogeographical significance of constitutive mixotrophs across global oceans. Global Ecology and Biogeography. 28(4): 418-428.
ecology source	Du Yoo, Y.; Jeong, H. J.; Kim, M. S.; Kang, N. S.; Song, J. Y.; Shin, W.; Kim, K. Y.; Lee, K. (2009). Feeding by Phototrophic Red-Tide Dinoflagellates on the Ubiquitous Marine DiatomSkeletonema costatum. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology. 56(5): 413-420.
ecology source	Mitra, A.; Caron, D. A.; Faure, E.; Flynn, K. J.; Leles, S. G.; Hansen, P. J.; McManus, G. B.; Not, F.; Do Rosario Gomes, H.; Santoferrara, L. F.; Stoecker, D. K.; Tillmann, U. (2023). The Mixoplankton Database (MDB): Diversity of photo‐phago‐trophic plankton in form, function, and distribution across the global ocean. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology. 70(4).

Genbank

Taxonomy

Published in AlgaeBase

Citation

Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. (2025). AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway (taxonomic information republished from AlgaeBase with permission of M.D. Guiry). Alexandrium catenella (Whedon & Kofoid) Balech, 1985. Via: Costello, M.J.; Bouchet, P.; Boxshall, G.; Arvantidis, C.; Appeltans, W. (2011) European Register of Marine Species, Accessed through PESI at http://www.eu-nomen.eu/portal/taxon.php?GUID=urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:231873