Phylum Dinoflagellata Engl. (1903) see Superclass Dinoflagellata Bütschli, 1885
   Subphylum Dinokaryota Fensome, F.J.R. Taylor, G. Norris, Sarjeant, Wharton & G.L. Williams (1993)
     Class Dinophyceae Pascher (1914)
       Subclass Gymnodiniphycidae Fensome, F.J.R. Taylor, G. Norris, Sarjeant, Wharton & G.L. Williams (1993)
         Order Gymnodiniales Apstein (1909)
           Suborder Gymnodiniineae Fensome, F.J.R. Taylor, G. Norris, Sarjeant, Wharton & G.L. Williams (1993) see Order Gymnodiniales Apstein (1909)
             Family Kareniaceae Bergholtz, Daugbjerg, Moestrup & Fernández-Tejedor (2006) see Family Brachidiniaceae Sournia (1972)
               Genus Karenia Gert Hansen & Moestrup (2000)