The morphological identification of Protoperidinium（Peridiniales, Dinophyceae） species on the coasts of China

The classification and identification for Protoperidinium species are the most difficult work during its taxonomic study. In this research, taxonomic status of Protoperidinium was clarified by tracing its taxonomic history, 23 species belong to genus Protoperidinium on the coasts of China were preliminarily identified, and morphological description and plate patterns were given for each species. The key differences of similar species were also discussed in this study, we believe that P. oceanicum and P. murry, P. tumidum and P. fatulipes, P. globules and P.majus are separate species; P. diabolum should be treated as the valid name instead of the reported names Peridinium globosum or Peridinium longipes; the taxonomic relationship between P. punctulatum and P.subinerme requires further study.