Observations on Hippodonta (Bacillariophyceae) in selected ancient lakes
Author
Pavlov, Aleksandar
Author
Levkov, Zlatko
Author
Williams, David M.
Author
Edlund, Mark B.
St. Croix Watershed Research Station, Science Museum of Minnesota, Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, USA.
text
Phytotaxa
2013
2013-03-28
90
1
1
53
http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.90.1.1
journal article
10.11646/phytotaxa.90.1.1
1179-3163
5071976
Hippodonta angustata
A. Pavlov, Levkov, D.M. Williams & Edlund
,
sp. nov.
(
Figs 329–342
)
Type
:—
TANZANIA
.
Lake Tanganyika
, tangled in trawl from
8 m
depth
, ¼ mile offshore
between Kjiyi and Bangwe
,
4 February 1953
, collector
R. Ross
.
(
holotype
: slide BM! 72160; isotype: slide MKNDC! 005850/A)
.
Valves narrow, strictly lanceolate to narrow rhombic-lanceolate, with broadly cuneate or moderately rounded valve ends that are not protracted. Valve length 10.0–27.0 µm, width
3.3–5.3 µm
. Axial area narrow-linear, central area forming panduriform fascia expanding to valve margins. In smaller valves, fascia nearly rectangular. Terminal area distinguishable with LM, broad, semi-elliptical. Raphe linear-filiform, with weakly pronounced, teardrop-shaped, closely spaced central endings. Terminal pores of raphe rarely discernible in LM, simple, circle-shaped and slightly advancing into the terminal area. Striae coarse, moderately to strongly radiate at middle, becoming parallel or weakly convergent towards valve ends,
10–14 in
10 µm
. Interstriae of equal or lower width than striae. Lineolae composing striae quite densely spaced along a stria, not distinguishable in LM.
Distribution
:—
Hippodonta angustata
has so far only been observed from Lake Tanganyika, East Africa. In the
type
material it is very frequent.
Observations
:—With regard to valve outline, the appearance and pattern of the striae
H
.
angustata
closely resembles
H
.
avittata
and
H
. cf.
avittata
in
Lange-Bertalot
et al.
(1996
: figs 1: 35–40). Nonetheless, the central area of both
H
.
avittata
and
H
. cf.
avittata
is not a fully developed fascia, whereas in
H
.
angustata
this is a consistent feature, making the distinction between
H
.
angustata
and the two in
Lange-Bertalot
et al.
(1996)
clear and straightforward. Furthermore, the lineolae in
H
.
angustata
are quite densely spaced along a stria and never discernible in LM view, as compared to
H
.
avittata
and
H
. cf.
avittata
where the lineolae are clearly distinguishable in LM view. Concerning the valve outline
H
.
angustata
is somewhat similar to
H. pseudacceptata
. Still, the latter taxon has quite small and rectangular-shaped central area compared to the consistently fully developed fascia of
H
.
angustata
. In addition, the striae of
H
.
pseudacceptata
are weakly radiate at the middle or parallel throughout the valve length, whereas the striae of
H
.
angustata
are moderately to strongly radiate at the middle and more coarse. With regard to the valve outline and the shape of the central area,
H
.
angustata
resembles
H
.
subrhombica
(
Metzeltin
et al.
2005
: figs 59: 31–36) described from a freshwater habitat near La Pedrera in
Uruguay
. Nevertheless, the latter taxon has clearly finer striae, also having less radiate or nearly parallel pattern at the middle. Additionally, the valve ends of
H
.
subrhombica
are broadly rounded and never cuneate, compared to the moderately rounded or broadly cuneate valve ends in
H
.
angustata
.
Hippodonta angustata
is also similar to
H
.
avittatiformis
(
Figs 308–328
) in regard to striae appearance, pattern and density. However, the valve ends in
H
.
avittatiformis
are consistently broadly protracted, as well as more broadly rounded compared to the unprotracted and broadly cuneate valve ends of
H
.
angustata
.