A genus of marine dinoflagellates (single-celled algae) that can cause red tides and produce toxins harmful to marine life.
From Greek 'gony' (angle/knee) plus 'aulos' (tube), referring to the angled grooves in these organisms. Named scientifically in the late 1800s for their distinctive structural features.
Gonyaulax causes red tides that glow bright blue at night—a phenomenon called bioluminescence—and produces saxitoxin, one of nature's deadliest poisons!
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