Tetramphora rhombica (Kitton) Stepanek & Kociolek (2016: 138)

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 : 138

Tetramphora rhombica (Kitton) Stepanek & Kociolek (2016: 138) ( Figs 87, 88 )

References: Schmidt et al. 1876, pl. 40, fig. 39; Peragallo and Peragallo 1897 –1908, pl. 50, fig. 4; Witkowski et al. 2000, p. 149, pl. 168, figs 12–13 all as Amphora rhombica Kitton in Schmidt et al. (1876: pl. 40, fig. 39).

Features: Length 105–140 μm, width 13–18 μm, striae 24–26 in 10 μm on the dorsal side, 28 in 10 μm on the ventral side.

Description: valves dorsiventral, elongated semi-elliptic to lanceolate with acutely rounded, ventrally bent apices. Dorsal margin arched, ventral margin straight to weakly arcuate.Axial area narrow, central area small, round to elliptic. Raphe weakly biarcuate, proximal endings bent dorsally.

Remarks: Observed specimens possess higher striae density than reported elsewhere, also valves appeared more linear lanceolate and narrower with slightly bent apices. Valve outline may look similar to Amphora rhombica var. intermedia Cleve (1895: 127) but striae are much denser than this variety.

Ecology and Distribution: Widely distributed marine species. Previously reported from the Gulf ( Al-Handal 2009, Al-Yamani & Saburova 2011). Frequent in Basra corals.

Figures

FIGURES 75–90. Marine benthic diatoms in coral reefs off Basra. Figs 75, 76. Amphora grevilleana, Figs 77, 78. Amphora janischii, Figs 79, 80. Amphora maletracta var. constricta, Fig. 81. Amphora marina, Fig. 82. Amphora mexicana, Figs 83, 84. Amphora ocellata, Figs 85,86. Tetramphora ostrearia, Figs 87,88. Tetramphora rhombica, Fig. 89. Amphora spectabilis, Fig. 90. Amphora sp.