Amphora janischii A. Schmidt, 1875

Al-Handal, Adil Y., Thomas, Evan W. & Pennesi, Chiara, 2018, Marine benthic diatoms in the newly discovered coral reefs, off Basra coast, Southern Iraq, Phytotaxa 372 (2), pp. 111-152 : 134-136

Amphora janischii A. Schmidt in Schmidt et al. (1875: pl. 25, figs 51–53) ( Figs 77, 78 )

References: A. Schmidt 1875, pl. 25, figs 51–53, 56, pl. 40, figs 30–32.

Features:Length: 45–62 μm, width: 7–9 μm, striae 14–16 in 10 μm on dorsal side, striae on ventral side indistinguishable under LM.

Description: valves dorsiventral, semi-elliptical to semi-lanceolate with protracted and truncate apices. Dorsal margin arched, ventral margin straight and slightly inflated in the middle. Dorsal striae interrupted in the middle by lunate hyaline area, ventral striae invisible. Axial area narrow, slightly widens ventrally at the center, central area slightly dilated ventrally. Raphe straight, proximal endings bent dorsally. Remarks; A. janischii is characterized by having an elevated lunate hyaline area on the dorsal margin opposite to the central area which may cover in some specimens one thirds of the dorsal side. This seems to be a characteristic feature that is not shared by other species of Amphora Ehrenberg ex Kützing ( Kützing 1844: 107) .

Ecology and Distribution: Amphora janischii is rarely reported in the literature and appear to have limited geographical distribution. Previously recorded from Australia ( Harper et al. 2012) and from the Adriatic (Vilicic et al. 2002). Not reported previously from the Gulf. Rare in Basra corals.

Figures

FIGURES 75–90. Marine benthic diatoms in coral reefs off Basra. Figs 75, 76. Amphora grevilleana, Figs 77, 78. Amphora janischii, Figs 79, 80. Amphora maletracta var. constricta, Fig. 81. Amphora marina, Fig. 82. Amphora mexicana, Figs 83, 84. Amphora ocellata, Figs 85,86. Tetramphora ostrearia, Figs 87,88. Tetramphora rhombica, Fig. 89. Amphora spectabilis, Fig. 90. Amphora sp.