It was first described by Edward M. Hulburt in 1957, and was named in honour of the British phycologist Nellie Carter-Montford.

The type locality is Great Pond, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, USA.

[2] It is found in shallow waters in coastal bays and estuaries.

In laboratory, the presence of a lysate of an A. carterae strain affects the embryonic development of sea urchins.

[6] Amphidinium carterae is a photosynthetic organism and can be cultured in the laboratory under suitable conditions of temperature and light.