Diploneis cf. weissflogii (Schmidt) Cleve (1894: 91)

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 cf. weissflogii (Schmidt) Cleve (1894: 91) ( Figs 41, 42 )

References: Podzorski & Håkansson, 1987, p. 61, pl. 21, figs 6, 7; Witkowski et al., 2000, pl. 92, figs 4, 5; Hein et al., 2008, pl. 27, fig. 9; Lobban et al. 2012, pl. 46, figs 5–7; Pennesi et al. 2017, p. 209, figs 58–65, 107.

Features: Length 34–81 μm, width 12–24 μm, striae 7–9 in 10 μm.

Description: Valves panduriform with rounded apices. Raphe branches straight, ending centrally in simple pores. Valve center with small nodule and three parallel transapical striae on each side. Axial area narrow, longitudinal canals linear. Transapical striae radiate.

Remarks: Our specimens show the typical areolae and central nodule that occur in D. weissflogii , but exhibit three parallel transapical striae on each side of the central nodule which are not commonly found in this species. Most of the observed specimens appeared with one half of the valve slightly larger than the other.

Ecology and Distribution: Widely distributed in all warm water coasts. Previously known from the Gulf (Hendy 1970, Al-Yamani & Saburova 2011). Common 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.