New data on the distribution of Spatulodinium pseudonoctiluca (Noctilucales; Kofoidiniaceae) in the Mexican Pacific

Abstract

In this paper the distribution of the dinoflagellate Spatulodinium pseudonoctiluca in different areas of the Mexican Pacific is depicted based on samples gathered during 2005-2010. This species is first recorded for Bahía de los Ángeles, Loreto and Bahía de Mazatlán in the Gulf of California, and in the southwest portion of the Mexican Pacific at Bahía de Acapulco, Guerrero and Salina Cruz, Oaxaca. This species appears in the study area mainly during the winter-spring period. The mature cells of S. pseudonoctiluca range from 100-173 μm in length and 89-120 μm in width. Cell size of the gymnodiniod stages observed in Bahía de La Paz ranged from 90 to 190 μm in length.