<Emphasis Type="Italic">Prorocentrum vietnamensis</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Prorocentraceae Dinophyta): A new armored dinoflagellate from Vietnam coastal waters

TheProrocentrum species, which are primarily marine, are distributed worldwide and occur in ocean, neritic, and littoral environments.Prorocentrum is either a planktonic or benthic genus, with some species possibly being both. Until now, about 35 species had been reported including two that are fresh-water. Some species contain toxic substances. As one of many currently active studies, we collectedP. vietnamensis sp. nov. from Hon Mé, Gulf of Tongkin, Vietnam. Based on its cell shape, smooth valve surface, arrangement of valves and marginal pores, plus characteristics of the central pyrenoid, we propose thatP. vietnamensis is a new species. Its attributes include straight cell sides that are parallel to each other, as well as anterior and posterior areas with rounded ends that form a short, rod-shaped cell that is unique to this species.