Prymnesium calathiferum sp. nov. (Prymnesiophyceae), a new species isolated from Northland, New Zealand

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Abstract
Prymnesium calathiferum sp. nov. is described from samples taken during a summer phytoplankton bloom dominated by Cerataulina pelegica (Cleve) Hendey, which occurred in Bream Bay off Northland, New Zealand. This new species, which is closely related to P. parvum Carter, was implicated in fish and shellfish mortalities in the area. Isolates of P. calathiferum were examined using both light and electron microscopy. Prymnesium calathiferum may be separated from the other six species of Prymnesium by several features. Firstly, P. calathiferum has elaborate wicker-basket-like external scales which are unique to this species, and secondly, it has the greatest ratio of flagella to cell length and the lowest ratio of haptonema to flagella length of all known Prymnesium species.