Dinophysis

Dinophysis is a genus of dinoflagellates common in tropical, temperate, coastal and oceanic waters. It was first described in 1839 by Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg.

Dinophysis are typically medium-sized cells (30-120 μm). The structural plan and plate tabulation are conserved within the genus. Dinophysis thecae are divided into halves by a sagittal fission suture. There are five types of thecae ornamentation in this genus, and those are a useful character for species identification. Dinophysis mainly divide by binary fission.

Dinophysis chloroplasts are usually rod-shaped or granular and yellow or brown colored. Some Dinophysis spp. take up kleptoplastids when feeding. Toxic Dinophysis produce okadaic acid, dinophysistoxins, and pectenotoxins, which inhibit protein phosphatase and cause diarrhea.