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 Navicula cf. cincta (Ehrenberg) Ralfs in Pritchard (1861: 901) ( Fig. 49 ) References : Krammer & Lange-Bertalot 1986 , pl. 28, figs 8–15; Witkowski et al. 2000 , p. 272, pl. 110, figs 1–29, pl. 129, fig. 17. Features : Length 53–61 μm, width 10–11 μm, striae 9–10 in 10 μm. Description : Valves linear lanceolate with rounded apices. Raphe branches straight, ending centrally in simple pores. Axial area narrow, central area transapically dilated or irregular. Transapical striae strongly radiate in the middle, becoming convergent near the apices. Remarks : Large specimens of this species were observed with slightly less dense striae and central area transapically dilated than the specimens reported by Witkowski et al. (2000) . Median striae are more distant and less convergent than the rest. Ecology and Distribution: Navicula cincta is brackish water species prefers eutrophic conditions. Previously reported from South Iraq ( Maulood et al. 2013 ). Rare in Basra corals.