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 Donkinia carinata (Donkin) Ralfs (1861: 921) ( Fig. 61 ) References : Pritchard 1861 , pl. 40; Peragallo & Peragallo 1908, pl. 36, fig. 15; Hartley et al. 1996 , pl. 290; Hein et al. 2008 , p. 54, pl. 29, fig. 2. Kim et al. 2017 , figs 5I‒P. Features : Length 80–120 μm; width 18–25 μm, striae fine, 22–24 in 10 μm. Description : Valves linear- lanceolate with acutely rounded apices. Raphe branches sigmoid, raised as ridge upon valve margin. Central nodule small and rounded. Striae appear in equidistant oblique and transverse rows. Remarks : Observed specimens appeared with striae slightly denser than previously reported from the Gulf ( Hendey 1970 ; Al-Yamani & Saburova 2011) who observed 18–20 in 10 μm. Ecology and Distribution: A marine littoral species, mostly on muddy sediments. Frequent in Basra corals.