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Two new freshwater species of Achnanthidium Kutzing are described from Eastern Ghats Mountain range of Peninsular India based on light and scanning electron microscopy observations. Achnanthidium initium sp. nov. belongs to the group of Achnanthidium taxa that have terminal raphe fissures curved to opposite sides of the valve. This taxon is characterized by distinctive fascia, raphe endings extending to the valve margin, lineate distal raphe endings and 2-5 linear areola per striae. Achnanthidium linannulum sp. nov. belongs to the group of Achnanthidium taxa with terminal raphe fissures curved to the same side of the valve. This species is characterized by the presence of occluded areolae near the margin, striae orientation and the weakly bent internal distal ends of the raphe. These new species are known only from their type locality, oligotrophic Masilla Waterfalls from Kolli Hills, Eastern Ghats.

Cholnoky described several new Surirella taxa from Africa and we have re-investigated this material. As many other of his contemporary authors, especially in the case of description of new African diatoms, Cholnoky did not indicate holotypes. In the present paper original materials are re-evaluated, lectotypes and a holotype are designated and also epitypes whenever it was appropriate. Taxa later transferred to Stenopterobia have not been taken into account. A short description of the seven species concerned (Surirella anassae, S. chasei, S. coei, S. oliffii, S. ostentata = Surirella ovata var. africana, S. pseudotenuis and S. pseudothienemannii) is given based on the original light microscopic descriptions. Additional morphological information based on scanning electron microscopy is added if available. The presently known ecology and distribution of the taxa is given as are other remarks, based on own observations. For each of the seven taxa Cholnoky's original drawings are presented, which were later re-drawn for publication and which are kept in the archive of the South African National Diatom Collection. The results are discussed referring to the outcome of the digitization project of African Surirellaceae (diatoms, microscopic algae) in the frame of the African Plants Initiative.

In this paper we describe Navicula nielsfogedii sp. nov., a commonly occurring diatom through central and southern Africa and distributed from the sub-tropical zones of South Africa to tropical central Africa. We have examined the material of the most closely related species described from Africa, Navicula feuerbornii f. africana Foged and suggest that this species may be conspecific with Navicula heimansioides Lange-Bertalot and to have no link to the taxon N. feuerbornii Hustedt sensu Simonsen. With reference to Navicula feuerbornii f. africana we also discuss the changes over time in diatom species concepts, what we have dubbed 'species concept drift', and the consequences this holds for accurately identifying diatom taxa. As the newly described species is widely distributed and common in some samples from tropical and subtropical Africa we conclude that it may be a useful additional indicator organism for water quality monitoring in the region.