Gomphocymbellopsis guijiangensis sp. nov. (Cymbellaceae; Bacillariophyta), a new species from Guangxi Province with comments on associated specimens from Hubei Province, China

Abstract

Gomphocymbellopsis guijiangensis sp. nov. and G. sp. were collected from the Guijiang River and from fossil deposits of the Jianghan Plain, respectively. The morphology of this new species is described by both light and scanning electron microscopy and compared with G. ancyli, the only other species of the genus Gomphocymbellopsis. G. guijiangensis sp. nov. is characterized by valves that are asymmetrical to the transapical axis and weakly asymmetrical to the apical axis, by the presence of pore fields at the apices, by three differently shaped stigmata, by externally and dorsally deflected distal raphe ends, and by often ventrally deflected proximal raphe ends. Therefore, we describe here G. guijiangensis sp. nov. as species new for science. Concise notes on the associated diatom flora and its ecological preferences are provided.