Heterosigma akashiwo
| Heterosigma akashiwo | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| (unranked): | |
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| Family: | Chattonellaceae |
| Genus: | Heterosigma |
| Species: | H. akashiwo |
| Binomial name | |
| Heterosigma akashiwo (Y. Hada) Y. Hada ex Y. Hara & M. Chihara | |
Heterosigma akashiwo is a species of microscopic algae of the class Raphidophyceae. It is a swimming marine alga that episodically forms toxic surface aggregations known as harmful algal bloom. The species name akashiwo is from the Japanese for "red tide".
Synonyms include Olisthodiscus luteus (Hulburt 1965), and Entomosigma akashiwo (Hada 1967). H. akashiwo and H. inlandica have been recognized as two species of Heterosigma. However, Hara and Chihara (1987) described both specimens as one species, validly describing them as H. akashiwo.