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 Amphora maletractata var. constricta (Heiden) Simonsen (1992: 72) ( Figs 79, 80 ) References : Simonsen 1992 , p. 71, pl. 76, figs 7–15; Witkowski et al. 2000 , p.144, pl. 167, figs 12–16. Features : Length: 40–58 μm, width 7–10 μm, striae 18–20 in 10 μm on the dorsal side. Description : Valves dorsiventral, semi-elliptic with protracted capitate apices. Dorsal margin arched, slightly constricted in the middle, ventral margin straight. Dorsal striae interrupted by lanceolate hyaline area on the dorsal margin. Axial area narrow, slightly widens laterally in the center, central area small, rectangular. Raphe straight. Remarks : This taxon can be easily identified by the wide hyaline area separating striae bands on the dorsal margin. This variety differs from the type by having a small constriction in the dorsal margin opposite to central area. Ecology and Distribution: Marine to brackish water form. Although recorded from variable geographic locations including the Arctic ( Witkowski et al. 2000 ), this taxon was not reported to be common on marine coasts. Not recorded previously from the Gulf. Rare in Basra corals.