Bindiferia boggaya (Sh. Murray & D.J. Patterson) Sh. Murray & Hoppenrath, 2021

Borchhardt, Nadine, Chomérat, Nicolas, Bilien, Gwenael, Zentz, Frédéric, Rhodes, Lesley, Murray, Shauna A. & Hoppenrath, Mona, 2021, Morphology and molecular phylogeny of Bindiferia gen. nov. (Dinophyceae), a new marine, sand-dwelling dinoflagellate genus formerly classified within Amphidinium, Phycologia 60 (6), pp. 631-643 : 634-636

Bindiferia boggaya (Sh. Murray & D.J. Patterson) Sh. Murray & Hoppenrath comb. nov.

Figs 15–28

BASIONYM: Amphidinium boggayum Sh. Murray & D.J. Patterson in Murray & Patterson 2002, European Journal of Phycology 37: 280, figs 2–7.

REGISTRATION: http://phycobank.org/102841.

EMENDED DESCRIPTION: Athecate dorsoventrally flattened, oval to oblong cells ( Figs 15–17, 19, 20 ), 39–58 µm long, 25–45 µm wide and approximately 22 µm deep. Smaller epicone asymmetrical, apex slightly to the left cell side ( Figs 15–17, 19 ). It was originally described that the proximal cingulum end originates 0.5–0.6 of the cell length from the apex, rising vertically to 0.2–0.3 of the cell length from the apex, then turning left and continuing at a slightly upward angle on the ventral side ( Figs 15, 17, 19 ). In the present study (after further observations) it is concluded that the cingulum descends about four cingular widths. The furrow becomes narrow where the ends meet ( Figs 15, 19 ). The longitudinal flagellum arises below the proximal cingulum end. The narrow sulcus curves to the right towards the posterior ( Figs 17, 19 ), reaches and sometimes slightly indents the antapex ( Fig. 16 ), and extends onto the epicone ( Figs 15, 17 ). The apical structure complex is connected to the sulcal extension and forms an anticlockwise loop around the apex ( Figs 17, 18 ). Oval nucleus located in the epicone ( Figs 16, 20, 24 ). Numerous golden-brown chloroplasts scattered throughout the cell ( Figs 19–25 ). A small red stigma in the anterior-ventral part of the epicone, near the apex ( Figs 19, 23 ). Small, reddish, putative food bodies can be present ( Figs 19, 22, 24, 25 ). Many extrusomes can be visible along the cell periphery ( Fig. 24 ). Free-swimming cells can become stationary and rapidly change into a non-motile stage that is covered by a hyaline layer ( Figs 23–25 ). Non-motile cells are more rounded in shape than swimming cells ( Figs 23–26, 29 ). Vegetative cell division takes place during the non-motile stage ( Figs 21, 22 , 27, 30 ). Two or four daughter cells per cyst can develop ( Figs 27, 28, 30, 31 ). Surface grooves were not observed.

MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION: MW720768 ( SSU rRNA gene region), MW722979, MW720712 ( LSU rRNA gene region).

STRAIN: Cawthron Institute Culture Collection of Microalgae (CICCM), accession CAWD164.

HABITAT: marine sandy sediments.

DISTRIBUTION: Sydney (Quibray Bay, Port Botany), Durras Lake, Broome (Town Beach), Australia ( Murray & Patterson 2002; Murray & Hoppenrath, unpublished observations); Rangaunu Harbour, New Zealand.

Figures

Figs 15–25. Light (15, 16, 19–25) and scanning electron (17, 18) micrographs of Bindiferia boggaya comb. nov. from Australia. Scale bars = 10 µm. Figs 15–18. Cells from Sydney, Australia, from the original description (Murray & Patterson 2002). Fig. 15. Cell in ventral view showing the cingulum and sulcus paths, note the sulcal extension (arrow). Fig. 16. Cell in mid-focus showing the anteriorly located nucleus (n). Fig. 17. Cell in ventral view showing the cingulum and sulcus paths; note the sulcal extension (arrow). The small arrowheads indicate the beginning and end points of the apical structure complex. Fig. 18. Apical view of the epicone showing the loop-shaped apical structure complex (arrowheads). Figs 19–25. Cells from Broome, Australia. Fig. 19. Motile cell in ventral view; note the red stigma close to the apex (arrow) and possibly a food body (asterisk). Fig. 20. Motile cell in dorsal view; note the anterior nucleus (n). Figs 21, 22. Vegetative division stage in a hyaline sheath in different focal planes; note the red stigma (arrow), the nuclei (n) and possible food bodies (asterisk). Figs 23–25. Non-motile cell in a hyaline sheath in different focal planes (23, ventral; 24 mid-focus; 25, dorsal); note the red stigma (arrow), the anterior nucleus (n) and a possible food body in the posterior area of the hypocone (asterisk). The dorsal hypocone surface is smooth, without grooves.

Figs 26–31. Division stages within a hyaline sheath of Bindiferia boggaya comb. nov. from Broome, Australia (26–28) and New Zealand (29–31). Scale bars = 10 µm. Figs 26, 29. Non-motile, rounded cell; note the stigma (arrow). Figs 27, 30. Two daughter cells in the division cyst; note a stigma (arrow). Figs 28, 31. Four daughter cells in the division cyst.