Three novel species of Bacillariophyta (Diatoms) belonging to Aulacoseira and Lindavia from the Pliocene Hadar Formation, Afar Depression of Ethiopia Author Mohan, Joseph Department of Earth and Environmental Systems, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana 47809, USA jmohan@sycamores.indstate.edu Author Stone, Jeffery R. Department of Earth and Environmental Systems, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana 47809, USA & Institute of Human Origins, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, P. O. Box 874101, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA text Phytotaxa 2016 2016-09-02 272 4 235 247 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.272.4.1 journal article 10.11646/phytotaxa.272.4.1 1179-3163 13647198 Lindavia cohenii Mohan & Stone , spec . nov . ( Figs 7 , 8 ) Valve outline is circular, 11–22 μm in diameter. Valve face exhibits transverse undulation. Areola on the valve face are large (0.7–1.1 μm) in diameter and are arranged in a weakly radiate manner. Granules are present between areolae. A single fultoportula is present near the center of the valve. Spinules encompass the margin on well preserved specimens. Areolae are distributed at 6–12 per 10 μm. Type: — ETHIOPIA . Afar Regional State: Weranso plain, 11.32535° N , 40.76491° E , 493 m a.s.l., late Pliocene lake sediment core ( HSPDP- NAW 14-1A) material, sediment depth ~ 28 m below surface, the HSPDP Northern Awash drilling team, March 2014 ( holotype ANSP ! GC 17187, circled specimen on slide NAW-141A-14Q-1 ( 51–53 cm ), here illustrated as Fig. 7 : J–L). Etymology: — Lindavia cohenii is named in honor of Dr. Andrew Cohen, University of Arizona , for his outstanding contributions to the field of paleolimnology, specifically in regards to his extensive studies of African rift lake systems. FIGURE 5. Diminution size reduction series pictures of A . jewsonii taken at two focal heights to examine the diameter accurately (A–C, E–G). Three valves in a filament (D, H) the top valve is a separation valve while the bottom two are linking valves. The holotype is shown at different focal heights (I–L). Remarks :— Lindavia cohenii differs from L . omarensis by having a diminution size range of 11–22 μm whereas L . omarensis ranges from 7.5–36.0 μm. Well preserved specimens of L . cohenii exhibit spinules near the margin while L . omarensis has no spinules. Areolae per 10 μm are 6–12 while L . omarensis has 10–16 per 10 μm.