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Even though very few biological data on dinoflagellates from Iraqi aquatic ecosystems are available to date, there are none on the genusScrippsiella. For this reason, the survey was conducted along four sites in the Shatt Al-Arab River between November 2009 and July 2010. A dense population ofScrippsiella-like dinoflagellate was observed in the studied samples during November and December 2009. Less dense population of the same taxon was encountered in the downstream sites in July 2010. Based on observations of thecal plate pattern in epifluorescence microscopy, the species was attributed toScrippsiella trochoidea. The occurrence ofS. trochoideais reported for the first time in Iraqi waters from a wide range of temperature (17.9°C–35.2°C) and salinity (2.3–16.7).

The occurrence of noctilucoid dinoflagellates Abedinium dasypus and Scaphodinium mirabile is reported for the first time from the Indian Ocean (Kuwait's waters, north-western Arabian Gulf). The morphology of live cells is described on the basis of light microscopic examination and photographically documented for both species. The world distribution of these dinoflagellates is reviewed.

The occurrence of the dinoflagellate Kryptoperidinium foliaceum is reported for the first time from a hypersaline environment in Kuwait based on recurrent observations of this species from a tidal creek in appreciable numbers. This new record extends the known range of salinity tolerance for K. foliaceum to more than 100 psu. The distribution of the species along a salinity gradient within the tidal creek was studied. The morphological features of the species on the basis of light and epifluorescence microscopy observations are described.