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A new benthic dinoflagellate, Coolia areolata Ten-Hage, Turquet, Quod & Coute sp. nov., was isolated from sandy substrata in La Possession Bay, La Reunion, and at various other sites in the western Indian Ocean. This new species is described and illustrated by light and scanning electron micrographs and drawings. The plate formula of C. areolata is P03′7″ 6c 6?s 5′″ 2″″. Cell size ranges are 30–36.5 μm long and 28–36.5 μm wide. Cells are spherical, areolate, and covered with scattered round pores. The surface of the apical plate 1′ is smooth. The apical pore is 9–10 μm long. Cells of C. areolata are distinguished from C. monotis and C.tropicalis by thecal surface morphology, thecal plate size and shape, and apical pore length.

A new toxic benthic marine dinoflagellate, Prorocentrum borbonicum Ten-Hage, Turquet, Quod, Puiseux-Dao & Coute sp. nov., isolated from the fringing coral reef of St Leu from La Reunion Island (France, southwest Indian Ocean) is described from light and scanning micrographs. The species was identified based on shape, size, surface micromorphology, ornamentation of thecal plates, and architecture of the periflagellar area and intercalary band. Prorocentrum borbonicum is a small species (18–24 μm long and 16–20 μm wide) with a broadly ovate shape. Thecal depressions are numerous (950–1020 per valve). Two sizes of valve pores were recognized: large pores, which are scattered on the valve surface, except in the central area, and smaller pores, which are localized chiefly in the centre of the valve and at the periphery, along the intercalary band. The periflagellar area is V-shaped and accommodates a flagellar pore and an auxiliary pore, the latter being the smaller of the two. Prorocentrum borbonicum...

A new benthic marine dinoflagellate, Sinophysis canaliculata Quod, Ten-Hage, Turquet, Mascarell et Coute sp. nov., was isolated from coral and sediment samples from sites in the western Indian Ocean. This new species is described and illustrated by drawings and light and scanning electron micrographs. Members of Sinophysis Nie et Wang are generally laterally flattened with circular outlines. The new species differ from others of the genus in the following characters: cell shape and size and features of thecal plates (plate shapes, size and number of valve pores, presence of a narrow thecal cut in the left hypothecal plate). Sinophysis canaliculata is heterotrophic, lacking any chloroplasts.