Spicaticribra kingstonii Johansen, Kociolek & Lowe (Thalassiosirales, Bacillariophyta): first report of the genus and species from Chilean inland waters

Abstract

Spicaticribra kingstonii Johansen, Kociolek & Lowe was found in Laguna Grande de San Pedro, Chile. This is the first report of the genus and species for the country. The Chilean specimens lack of a central fultoportula on the valve face, as well as of external extensions of the marginal fultoportulae, and have areolae with internal spicate anastomosing cribra, features present in the genus Spicaticribra. In this paper we describe the characteristics of the Chilean cells, comments on he variability of some of its morphological features and about its relationship with other closely related taxa, and light and scanning electron microscope photographs aim to provide information about those features.