Lyngbya is a genus of cyanobacteria, unicellular autotrophs that form the basis of the oceanic food chain.
As a result of recent genetic analyses, several new genera were erected from this genus: e.g., Moorea,[2] Limnoraphis,[3] Okeania,[4] Microseira,[5] and Dapis.[6]
Lyngbya species form long, unbranching filaments inside a rigid mucilaginous sheath. Sheaths may form tangles or mats, intermixed with other phytoplankton species. They reproduce asexually. Their filaments break apart and each cell forms a new filament.[7] The mats grow around atolls, salt marshes, or fresh water.[8]
Some Lyngbya species can also temporarily monopolize aquatic ecosystems when they form dense, floating mats in the water.
Ingestion of Lyngbya is potentially lethal.[8] Most commonly, poisoning is caused by eating fish which have fed on Lyngbya or which have fed on other fish which have consumed Lyngbya.[8] This is called "ciguatera-like" poisoning.[8]