A recent review (Haman, 1988) of the publication “Foraminiferal Genera and Their Classification” by Alfred R. Loeblich, Jr. and Helen Tappan, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York, incorrectly indicated the date of its publication as “early 1988,” although adding, parenthetically, “The senior author refers to the publication date as December, 1987, A. R. Loeblich, Jr., January, 1988, written communication.”

The foraminiferal suborder Astrorhizina is reinstated for the typically monothalamous agglutinated taxa whose cementing material is solely organic, the suborder Haplophragmiina reinstated for multilocular agglutinated taxa with organic cement and simple to alveolar walls. The suborder Trochamminina is recognized for those with organic cement and simple agglutinated walls, and the suborder Textulariina is restricted to include only those with agglutinated walls containing biogenic calcareous cement, and typically canaliculate. In the latter suborder, the new genera Connemarella, type species Gaudryina rudis Wright, and Hemlebenia, type species Hemlebenia aptiensis n. sp., are described in the expanded family Pseudogaudryinidae, subfamily Pseudogaudryininae, whose geologic range thereby is extended into the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian).

Body scales in dinoflagellate species belonging to Heterocapsa developed in vesicles derived from the Golgi apparatus, but did not appear within the stacked Golgi cisternae. The membranes of the scale vesicles functioned as molds for the developing scales. Mature scales within expanded vesicles moved to the flagellar area, the site of release. Body scales were seen within the cytoplasm of Heterocapsa spp. fixed at various times in the light: dark cycle, suggesting that scales are formed and probably released continuously.

Cytokinesis is described for the first time in a pelliculate dinoflagellate that retains its thecal plates during cell division. In Heterocapsa niei cytokinesis proceeded in a manner that differed from that described for other dinoflagellates. The thecal plates separated along the fission line before the development of a cleavage furrow. A distinct cleavage furrow developed as cytokinesis progressed. The outer membrane and the outer plate membrane expanded during division to enclose the enlarging cell undergoing cytokinesis; however, as the cleavage furrow deepened, these membranes were not continuous with the cytoplasm. The pellicle was occasionally intermittent in the region of the cleavage furrow, possibly facilitating movement of material from the cytoplasm to the developing outer membranes. Thecal plate formation occurred within the thecal vesicle from unrecognizable precursors.

Using the mouse bioassay for paralytic shellfish poison (PSP), the distribution of toxicity among 23 dinoflagellate species was studied. Special consideration was given to red-tide-forming species and to those species previously implicated as causative organisms in paralytic shellfish poisoning. Among those investigated were ten marine species of the genus Gonyaulax, previously known to contain three toxic species. The presence of PSP was detected only in Gonyaulax species of the section Catenella. The amount of toxin varied in different species, ranging from 0.05 to 24 pg/cell. The amount of toxin per cell also varied with the phase of growth (exponential or stationary) in the New England red-tide species, G. tamarensis var. excavata Braarud.

A strain of Zooxanthella microadriatica (Freudenthal) comb.nov. has been isolated from decaying Chondrus crispus (L.) Stackh. The ultrastructure of this isolate has been compared to that of Z. microadriatica inhabiting Cassiopea Peron and Lesueur, 1809, sp. In an aqueous medium the cell cycle of both isolates consists of a coccoid non-motile phase alternating with a thecate motile phase.

A systematic classification generally reflects accurately the state of knowledge of a group. As information concerning the group increases, both similarities and differences become more apparent. New characters then may be utilized to develop a more complex classification, that better serves to indicate presumed relationships. Assuming that organisms have evolved through time, the more detailed classification may also prove more valuable to the biostratigrapher.