SEM survey of some small-sized Planothidium (Bacillariophyta) from coral sands off Mascarenes (Western Indian Ocean)
Riaux-Gobin, C.; Compère, P.; Al-Handal, A.Y.; Straub, F. (2012). SEM survey of some small-sized Planothidium (Bacillariophyta) from coral sands off Mascarenes (Western Indian Ocean). Nova Hedwigia Beiheft 141: 295-314
In: Nova Hedwigia. Borntraeger Gebrüder: Berlin; Stuttgart. ISSN 0029-5035, more
The coral sands from reef lagoons off Mascarenes (i.e. the Réunion and Rodrigues Islands, Western Indian Ocean) contain a high diversity of small-sized, achnanthoid diatoms, several of which have the distinctive features of the genus Planothidium Round & Bukhtiyarova. Among these Planothidium species, three small-sized taxa are presented in this paper. Planothidium rodriguense is close to P. renei, but with several distinctive characteristics: a higher stria density and terminal raphe endings bent towards the same side of the valve. In addition, this species was observed in a marine habitat. P. mathurinense is round-shaped and also small-sized, and lacks one or two striae on one side of the valve sternum. Since it also lacks an internal cavum on this valve, it is close to the lanceolatae group. Planothidium sp. 1 differs from Planothidium tenerum by smaller and narrower valves with somewhat more rostrate apices. A proper nomenclatural position of each taxon is discussed.
All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy
