Morphology of Australoneis gen. nov. and A. frenguelliae comb. nov. (Achnanthales, Bacillariophyta) from the Antarctic Peninsula

Based on marine benthic diatoms collected at Potter Cove (Western Antarctic Peninsula), we present a detailed study, using both light and electron microscopy, of the morphology of Campyloneis frenguelliae, a species recently transferred from Cocconeis. Ultrastructural observations revealed a combination of new and unusual features within the Achnanthales: a raphe valve with different areolation patterns, a hollow valvocopula with no apparent fimbriae, and a sternum valve externally ornamented by an embossed structure, areolae occluded by hymenes mostly supported by one short peg, and multiple marginal pores that open internally into shallow valve depressions. In view of these unique set of features, we describe Australoneis gen. nov. to include Australoneis frenguelliae comb. nov. and designate a sample from Potter Cove as epitype of the latter. The main characteristics of the new genus are compared to those of its closely allied Cocconeis, Campyloneis, Xenococconeis and Amphicocconeis.

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