First Record and Morphological Features of the Dinoflagellate Peridinium aciculiferum Lemm. (Dinophyceae) in Korean Freshwater

Two morphologically different species of Peridinium were frequently observed in natural samples collected monthly from Togyo Reservoir. One was previously identified as P. bipes Stein f. occultatum (Lindem.) Lef. (Ki and Han 2005), the other was remained uncertainly so far. We resolved their identity, based on the morphological observations with scanning electron microscopy. The formula of epithecal plate was recorded with 7 precingular, 3 intercalary and 4 apical plates (4', 3a, 7'). An apical pore was apparently present. The conspicuous morphology of the Peridinium was three spines on the hypothecal plates. The average body length and width were $33.6\;{\mu}m$ with a range of $26\~45{\mu}m$, and 25.7 with a range of $19\~31{\mu}m$, respectively; the cell was, therefore, shown slightly elongated. Based on their morphological characteristics, the causative organism was identified as P. aciculiferum (Lemm.), which was reported for the first time in Korean freshwater.