Occurrence of Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum along the southern coast of the Baja California Peninsula

► Pyrodinium bahamense is a dinoflagellate confined to subtropical and tropical waters. ► Two varieties (bahamense and compressum) cause blooms and produce paralytic toxins. ► They were observed for the first time in the southern Baja California coasts. ► Highest cell number observed of var. compressum suggests its first proliferation. ► Future proliferations of Pyrodinium bahamense could represent a risk to public health.