A new small-celled diatom from Brazil - Luticola minutissima sp. nov., with comparison to the type of the Antarctic L. neglecta Zidarova, Levkov & Van de Vijv

• Published in: Phytotaxa
• Main Authors: RYBAK, MATEUSZ, PESZEK, ŁUKASZ, SKOCZYLAS, ŁUKASZ, LUDWIG, THELMA ALVIM VEIGA
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Magnolia press 2022
• Subjects: Bacillariophyta; new taxa; Luticola; bryophytes; South America; Algae; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://www.mapress.com/pt/article/view/phytotaxa.530.3.4

The samples for this study were collected from terrestrial mosses and lichens growing on palm tree trunks and concrete walls in the city of Rio de Janeiro, south-eastern Brazil. During the investigation on diatom diversity, a new species from the genus Luticola was found. The new species occurred individually at all sampling sites. The aim of this paper is to provide a morphological and ecological description of Luticola minutissima sp. nov. from an aerophytic environment. The species is characterized by a small valve size (5.2–16.8 μm length and 3.7–4.4 wide) and abruptly hooked proximal raphe endings (ca. 90-degree angle). Additionally for comparison, type material of the most similar species, Luticola neglecta Zidarova, Levkov & Van de Vijver, was studied and new information for the ultrastructure of the latter species is provided as well.