Abstract

A new species, Nupela eremica sp. nov. is described from a high mountain lake located in the Eastern Range of Colombian Andes. The new taxon was studied from sediment and epiphyton samples and under light and scanning electron microscope. Comparison with morphologically similar taxa is showed. N. giluwensis, N. carolina, N. gomphosphenioides, N. encyonopsis, N. incerta, N. neglecta, N. tenuicephala, and N. exilissima show morphometric values overlapping those of Nupela eremica sp. nov. The combination of valve size and outline is unique and justifies the erection of this new species.