Halamphora coffeaeformis (Agardh) Levkov (2009: 179)

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 : 137

Halamphora coffeaeformis (Agardh) Levkov (2009: 179) ( Fig. 71 )

References: Levkov 2009, p. 179, pl. 91, figs 1–14, pl. 94, figs 17–27. pl. 99, figs 15–23.

Features:Length30–56μm,width9–14μm,striae 16–18in 10μm on the ventral side,ventral striae hardly visible under LM.

Description: valves dorsiventral, semi-lanceolate with slightly protracted rounded apices. Dorsal margin convex, ventral margin weakly concave. Raphe straight, following curvature of the ventral margin, proximal endings dorsally bent. Axial area narrow, central area not differentiated from central area.

Remarks: Striae of the observed specimens appear less dense than that reported by Witkowski et al. (2000) (17–24 in 10 μm). The species is rather variable in valve outline and about 30 varieties were described ( Fourtanier & Kociolek 2009).

Ecology and Distribution: Widely distributed epipelic marine to brackish water species. Common on the mudflats of South Basra ( Al-Handal 2009). Previously reported from the Gulf (Al-Yamani & Saburova 2011). Frequent in Basra corals.

Figures

FIGURES 62–74. Marine benthic diatoms in coral reefs off Basra.Fig. 62. Pleurosigma diverse-striatum, Fig. 63. Pleurosigma strigosum, Figs 64, 65. Plagiotropis lepidoptera, Fig. 66. Stauroneis sp., Fig. 67. Amphora arcuata, Fig. 68. Amphora arenaria, Fig. 69. Amphora cf. commutata, Fig. 70. Amphora cingulata, Fig. 71. Halamphora coffeaeformis, Fig. 72. Halamphora costata, Figs 73,74. Amphora graeffeana.