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 Diploneis nitescens (Gregory) Cleve (1894: 97) ( Fig. 39 ) References : Podzorski & Håkansson, 1987 , pl. 21, fig.3; Desikachary 1988 , pl. 566, figs 1–13; Witkowski et al. 2000 , p. 189, pl. 90, figs 1–3, Pl. 94, fig. 1. Features : Length 52–70 μm, width 18–26 μm, striae 7–9 in 10 μm. Description : Valves elliptical to rhombic-elliptical with rounded apices. Raphe branches straight, ending centrally in expanded pores. Central nodule square with wavy margin. Axial area large, longitudinal canals semi-lanceolate, decreasing in size toward the apices. Transapical striae radiate at the center, strongly radiate near the apices. Remarks : Rather similar to D. smithii (Brébisson) Cleve (1894: 96) but distinguished by having wider longitudinal canals. Ecology and Distribution: According to Hustedt (1937), D. nitescens is widely distributed species in marine coasts from Northern Europe to the Mediterranean. Previously recorded from the Gulf (Al-Yamani & Saburova 2011). Frequent in Basra corals.