Marine benthic diatoms in the newly discovered coral reefs, off Basra coast, Southern Iraq Author Al-Handal, Adil Y. Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Sweden Author Thomas, Evan W. Biology Department, Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove, Illinois, USA Author Pennesi, Chiara Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italia text Phytotaxa 2018 2018-10-12 372 2 111 152 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.372.2.1 journal article 10.11646/phytotaxa.372.2.1 1179-3163 13728822 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.