1 Highlights • The type species of Cochlodinium, C. strangulatum, is widespread, but was mistaken for large cells of Gyrodinium. • First molecular data of a Cochlodinium heterotrophic species, the generic type Cochlodinium strangulatum. • The morphology and molecular phylogeny of Cochlodinium polykrikoides is distantly related to the generic type. • New genus, Margalefidinium gen. nov., and combinations for Cochlodinium polykrikoides and allied species. 2 Molecular characterization and morphology of Cochlodinium strangulatum, the type species of Cochlodinium, and Margalefidinium gen. nov. for C. polykrikoides and allied species (Gymnodiniales, Dinophyceae) Fernando Gómeza,*, Mindy L. Richlenb, Donald M. Andersonb a Carmen Campos Panisse 3, E-11500 Puerto de Santa María, Spain b Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole MA 02543-1049, USA * Corresponding author: E-mail address:
[email protected] (F. Gómez) 3 ABSTRACT Photosynthetic species of the dinoflagellate genus Cochlodinium such as C. polykrikoides, one of the most harmful bloom-forming dinoflagellates, have been extensively investigated. Little is known about the heterotrophic forms of Cochlodinium, such as its type species, Cochlodinium strangulatum. This is an uncommon, large (~200 µm long), solitary, and phagotrophic species, with numerous refractile bodies, a central nucleus enclosed in a distinct perinuclear capsule, and a cell surface with fine longitudinal striae and a circular apical groove. The morphology of C. polykrikoides and allied species is different from the generic type. It is a bloom-forming species with single, two or four-celled chains, small cell size (25–40 µm long) with elongated chloroplasts arranged longitudinally and in parallel, anterior nucleus, eye-spot in the anterior dorsal side, and a cell surface smooth with U-shaped apical groove.