Diploneis nitescens (Gregory) Cleve (1894: 97)

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 : 126

Diploneis nitescens (Gregory) Cleve (1894: 97) ( Fig. 39 )

References: Podzorski & Håkansson, 1987, pl. 21, fig.3; Desikachary 1988, pl. 566, figs 1–13; Witkowski et al. 2000, p. 189, pl. 90, figs 1–3, Pl. 94, fig. 1.

Features: Length 52–70 μm, width 18–26 μm, striae 7–9 in 10 μm.

Description: Valves elliptical to rhombic-elliptical with rounded apices. Raphe branches straight, ending centrally in expanded pores. Central nodule square with wavy margin. Axial area large, longitudinal canals semi-lanceolate, decreasing in size toward the apices. Transapical striae radiate at the center, strongly radiate near the apices.

Remarks: Rather similar to D. smithii (Brébisson) Cleve (1894: 96) but distinguished by having wider longitudinal canals.

Ecology and Distribution: According to Hustedt (1937), D. nitescens is widely distributed species in marine coasts from Northern Europe to the Mediterranean. Previously recorded from the Gulf (Al-Yamani & Saburova 2011). Frequent in Basra corals.

Figures

FIGURES 38–51. Marine benthic diatoms in coral reefs off Basra. Fig. 38. Diploneis gemmatula, Fig. 39. Diploneis nitescens, Fig. 40. Diploneis smithii, Figs 41, 42. Diploneis weissflogii, Fig, 43. Diploneis sp., Fig. 44. Navicula arenaria, Fig. 45. Navicula cancellata, Figs 46–48. Navicula carinifera, Fig. 49. Navicula cf. cincta, Fig. 50. Navicula directa, Fig. 51. Navicula distans.