Raphoneidaceaea Forti

Al-Handal, Adil Y., Compère, Pierre & Criobe-Usr, Catherine Riaux-Gobin, 2016, Marine benthic diatoms in the coral reefs of Reunion and Rodrigues Islands, West Indian Ocean, Micronesica 2016 (3), pp. 1-78 : 11

Family Raphoneidaceaea Forti

Raphoneis sp. (Pl. 6, Fig. 13) Features: Apical axis: 15-20 µm, transapical axis: 10-12 µm, striae 16-18 in 10 µm. Valves lanceolate elliptic with slightly produced rounded apices. Sternum very narrow, linear. Striae arranged in radiate line, becoming nearly curved near the apices.

Remarks: Valve outline bears similarity to R. amphiceros but with less acute apices, more dense striae and a much narrower sternum. R. amphiceros , however is variable in shape (Wikowski et al. 2000) and may undergo large morphogenesis ( Sato et al. 2011).

Occurrence: Rare in Rodrigues Island.