Abstract

Observation of sand samples collected from an estuarine sandy beach in Southern China revealed the presence of a new biraphid diatom. It is characterized by the presence of a twisted raphe system, apically elongate areolae, and striae interrupted by longitudinal H-shaped lateral areas in a form of valve face depressions, as well as girdle composed of open, plain copulae. The structure of valve outline, the raphe sternum and striae bears some resemblance to some established genera including e.g., Lyrella, Fallacia, Scolioneis, Scoliopleura and Scoliotropis, however, these characters are uniquely combined in this novel taxon. The new species, Scoliolyra elliptica, belongs to a new biraphid genus, Scoliolyra, and it is tentatively placed within the family Scolioneidaceae.