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 Coscinodiscus centralis Ehrenberg (1839: 129) ( Fig. 8 ) References : Hasle & Syvertsen 1997 , figs 6a–c; pl. 15, figs 20a, b; Desikachary 1988 , pl. 510, fig. 4, pl. 514, fig. 6, pl. 547, figs 1–4. Features : Diameter 140–200 μm. Description : Valves circular, slightly convex. Hexagonal areolae arranged in radial lines. In the center of the valve is visible characteristic rosette of larger central areolae. Remarks : This large species is widespread in the plankton of the Gulf and is deposited on the sediment in Basra corals. Ecology and Distribution : widely distributed pelagic species. Previously reported from the Gulf ( Hendey 1970 , Simonsen 1974 ). Frequent in Basra corals.