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GENUS AMPHISOLENIA STEIN FROM NORTH-WEST ARABIAN SEA SHELF OF PAKISTAN

SADAF GUL AND S. M. SAIFULLAH

Abstract: The present paper describes 18 species of the dinoflagellate genus Amphisolenia Stein from the northwest Arabian Sea bordering Pakistan, including two new species Amphisolenia acuta sp. nov., and Amphisolenia deltiana sp. nov., and four new records Amphisolenia brevicauda, Amphisolenia globifera, Amphisolenia schauinslandi and Amphisolenia sp., from the area. Most species were rare except Amphisolenia bidentata which was most common. The description of the species is supplemented by illustrations and a key to facilitate their identification. Most species were neritic or neritic-oceanic and tropical or sub-tropical in nature which is indicative of the area of study. The species diversity was higher on the Indus Delta shelf area than on Balochistan shelf. Most species occurred in the transition period and less in cold northeast monsoon season. The individuals of a given species varied significantly among each other with respect to their sizes and dimensions.

Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.

Correspondence Author's E-mail: sadafgpk@yahoo.com