Cellular and body scale morphology of Heterocapsa huensis sp. nov. (Peridiniales, Dinophyceae) found in Hue, Vietnam

Cellular and body scale structure of a new armored dinoflagellate Heterocapsa huensis , collected from Hue, Vietnam were investigated. Morphology of motile cell was observed by light, fluorescent and scanning electron microscopy, and body scale structure was examined by whole mounts of transmission electron microscopy. Cells of H. huensis were ellipsoid with a spherical nucleus located in the posterior and multiple pyrenoids located above the nucleus; this arrangement was similar to that of Heterocapsa pygmaea . Transmission electron microscopy revealed ultrastructure of the body scales consisted of a rounded triangular basal plate and three-dimensional ornaments. Structure of the basal plate resembles that of Heterocapsa illdefina ; however, the number of the peripheral spine is different from that of H. illdefina and this structure has never been reported from Heterocapsa species. A new Heterocapsa species, H. huensis Iwataki et Matsuoka sp. nov., is described based on positions of organelles and body scale ultrastructure.