Gambierdiscus excentricus sp. nov. (Dinophyceae), a benthic toxic dinoflagellate from the Canary Islands (NE Atlantic Ocean)

A new benthic toxic dinoflagellate is described from the Canary Islands, Spain. Gambierdiscus excentricus sp. nov. was isolated from seaweeds growing in tidal ponds and was observed in winter and summer. Its morphology was studied by means of light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM); G. excentricus is a lenticular species having a Po plate ventrally displaced in relation to other species of the genus Gambierdiscus. Phylogenetic trees from large subunit (LSU) of ribosomal RNA gene sequences displayed a topology confirming that G. excentricus clustered in its’ own group, separated from the rest of Gambierdiscus species and with Gambierdiscus australes as its closest relative. Pigment composition studied from G. excentricus cultures, included peridinin, as the major carotenoid, chlorophyll a and the accessory chlorophylls c1 and c2. The Neuroblastoma cell-based assays for ciguatoxins (CTX) and maitotoxin (MTX) confirmed G. excentricus as a CTX- and MTX-like compounds producer. The finding of a toxic species of Gambierdiscus in the Canary Islands may explain the recent reported cases of ciguatera in the area.

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► Two species of dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus have been found in the Canary Islands.
► We describe Gambierdiscus excentricus, a new species of benthic dinoflagellate.
► G. excentricus is toxic and produces ciguatoxins and maitotoxins.
► G. excentricus could be the cause of ciguatera in the Canary Islands.