Tryblioptychus cocconeiformis (Cleve) Hendey (1958: 46)

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 : 114

Tryblioptychus cocconeiformis (Cleve) Hendey (1958: 46) ( Fig. 4 )

References: Hendey 1958, p. 46; pl. 2, fig. 10; Prasad et al. 2002, p. 295, figs 5–26; Al-Handal 2009, p. 164, fig. 12.

Features: Length 26–32 μm, width 25–28 μm.

Description: Valves broadly elliptical, slightly undulate with raised and depressed sectors. Valve mantle distinct with a ring of large areolae. Striae on valve surface arranged in fascicles, each fascicle with 2–4 rows of small areolae.

Remarks: This species is rather common in the North-West region of the Gulf. It was first recorded by Tynni (1983, p. 8, fig. 86) but he mistakenly described it as new species belonging to Cyclotella ( C. crassa Tynni 1983:13 ) based on the short marginal radial striae, which is a feature seen in some species of Cyclotella .

Ecology and Distribution: A marine epipelic species commonly found in warm waters, particularly in bays and shallow coastal water. Previously reported from the Gulf ( Tynni 1983, Al-Handal 2009). 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.