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 arenaria Donkin (1861: 10) ( Fig. 44 ) References : Krammer & Lange-Bertalot 1986 , p. 118, pl. 39, figs 1,2; Desikachary 1989 , pl. 640, figs 13,14; Witkowski et al. 2000 , p. 267, pl. 116, figs 15–17, pl. 134, figs 8, 9. Features : Length 54–70 μm, width 9–12 μm, striae 7–8 in 10 μm. Description : Valves linear lanceolate with acutely rounded apices. Raphe branches straight, ending centrally in simple pores. Axial area narrow, central area transapically dilated. Transapical striae radiate at the center, parallel near the apices. Ecology and Distribution : Widely distributed marine species. Known previously from the Gulf (Al-Yamani & Saburova 2011). Frequent in Basra corals.