| Kareniaceae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Anatomy of Karenia brevis | |
 | |
| Karenia brevis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Sar |
| Clade: | Alveolata |
| Phylum: | Dinoflagellata |
| Class: | Dinophyceae |
| Order: | Gymnodiniales |
| Family: | Kareniaceae |
Kareniaceae is an accepted marine family of relatively small, toxic, unarmored dinoflagellates belonging to the order Gymnodiniales. [1] [2] Species in the Kareniaceae clade often cause harmful discolored green algal blooms (HABs) that pose a safety and health risk to humans (H. sapiens) and the surrounding regions. Such blooms also pose a risk to coastal aquaculture worldwide, especially in places like France, the Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel and the Mediterranean Sea. [3] [4]
Species in this family produce neurotoxins like brevetoxins, which cause human shellfish poisoning (HSP), respiratory effects and mass fish death. [5]