Delicatophycus liuweii sp. nov., a new cymbelloid diatom (Bacillariophyceae) from an upper tributary of the Liujiang River, Guangxi, China

Abstract

During a survey of freshwater diatoms from streams in the upper reaches of the Liujiang River, Guangxi, China, a new Delicatophycus species, Delicatophycus liuweii sp. nov. was discovered and is presented here based on light and scanning electron microscopy. The main features of D. liuweii include strongly dorsiventral valves with slightly truncate and obtusely rounded ends and 3–6 stigmata positioned on ventral striae adjacent to the middle. The new species is compared with Delicatophycus williamsii, D. pouemboutensis, D. nepouianaus and Cymbella parvulissima, all of which show similarities to the new species, but differ in size, valve shape, striae density, puncta density and number of stigmata.