Coscinodiscus centralis Ehrenberg (1839: 129)

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 : 116

Coscinodiscus centralis Ehrenberg (1839: 129) ( Fig. 8 )

References: Hasle & Syvertsen 1997, figs 6a–c; pl. 15, figs 20a, b; Desikachary 1988, pl. 510, fig. 4, pl. 514, fig. 6, pl. 547, figs 1–4.

Features: Diameter 140–200 μm.

Description: Valves circular, slightly convex. Hexagonal areolae arranged in radial lines. In the center of the valve is visible characteristic rosette of larger central areolae.

Remarks: This large species is widespread in the plankton of the Gulf and is deposited on the sediment in Basra corals.

Ecology and Distribution: widely distributed pelagic species. Previously reported from the Gulf ( Hendey 1970, Simonsen 1974). Frequent in Basra corals.

Figures

FIGURES 2–10. Marine benthic diatoms in the coral reefs off Basra. Fig. 2. Cyclotella striata, Fig. 3. Cyclotella stylorum, Fig. 4. Tryblioptychus cocconeiformis, Figs 5, 6. Podosira stelliger, Fig. 7. Paralia sulcata, Fig. 8. Coscinodiscus centralis, Fig. 9. Coscinodiscus marginatus, Fig. 10. Triceratium robertsianum.