Medlinella amphoroidea gen. et sp. nov. (Bacillariophyta) from the neck skin of Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta)

• DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.272.2.1
• Publication Date: 2016-08-29T00:53:49Z
• Authors: THOMAS A. FRANKOVICH; MATT P. ASHWORTH; MICHAEL J. SULLIVAN; JANA VESELÁ; NICOLE I. STACY
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; Chromista; Bacillariophyceae; Ochrophyta; Cymbellales; Rhoicospheniaceae; Life Sciences; Biodiversity; 14. Life underwater; 01 natural sciences; Taxonomy

Medlinella amphoroidea gen. et sp. nov. is described from the dorsal neck skin of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). The presence girdle septa, multiple copulae, and marine epizoic habitat are characteristic features shared with many species in similar Tripterion, Chelonicola, Poulinea genera. semi-lanceolate valve shape, asymmetric face distinct ventral striae, volate pore occlusions distinguish these accounted for up to 50% all diatom valves on examined turtles. Examination type slides Tripterion kalamensis T. philoderma comparative purposes revealed morphological that were either insufficiently or incorrectly original publications. Our observations confirm lacks septa therefore does not conform genus description Tripterion. cingulum structure amended identify porose copulae open at one end. While creates another monotypic within a group genera, we feel novel character state (volate occlusions) present this taxon significant. Clearly, however, further phylogenetic analysis morphological, development molecular characters genera required.