J Syst Evol ›› 2009, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (2): 173-178.DOI: 10.1111/j.1759-6831.2009.00017.x

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

First report of Protokeelia spinifera and Rhopalodia iriomotensis from China, with comments on their systematic positions

Yang LI 1,2 Ya-Hui GAO*2 Song-Hui LU 1,3   

  1. 1 ( College of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Biotechnology for Plant Development, Guangzhou 510631, China )
    2 ( Key Laboratory for Subtropical Wetland Ecosystem Research, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China )
    3 ( Institute of Harmful Algae and Aquatic Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China ) *Author for correspondence. E-mail: .
  • Received:2007-05-16 Published:2009-04-02

Abstract: Protokeelia is described as a new and rare pennate diatom genus in China. Its valve includes two parts: ventral valve and dorsal valve. The ventral valve is more or less convex or concave. The raphe runs in a distinct elevated and thickened siliceous ridge. In the internal valve, beneath the raphe are fibulae or fibulae clusters which connect the ventral and dorsal valves. One species, P. spinifera Round & Basson, is observed in the water samples from a mangrove forest in Sai Kung, Hong Kong, China. Its main morphological features are described in this paper along with electron microscope (EM) photos. Morphological comparisons are also made among several allied species. In addition, a newly recorded species for China, Rhopalodia iriomotensis Kobayasi, Nagumo & Tanaka, is discussed here. Because several key features observed in this species resemble those of some Protokeelia species, we suggest that it may actually represent a Protokeelia species.

Key words: China, new genus record, Protokeelia, Rhopalodia iriomotensis.