Gonyaulax tamarensis

Gonyaulax tamarensis is a species of dinoflagellate, a type of single-celled aquatic organism that has characteristics of both plants and animals. These organisms are a vital part of the marine food chain and can produce bioluminescence.1

Some dinoflagellates, including Gonyaulax tamarensis, are toxic and can cause phenomena known as red tides when they reproduce rapidly. These red tides can lead to the death of fish and other marine animals. Humans can be poisoned by consuming shellfish that have ingested these toxic dinoflagellates. The toxins produced by Gonyaulax tamarensis can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning, a serious condition with symptoms ranging from numbness to paralysis, and for which there is no specific antidote.213