Craspedostauros laevissimus Sabbe

Craspedostauros laevissimus (West & G.S.West 9: 8) Sabbe (00: 5) (Figs – 8, 7, 9– 7, 80–85) LM observations (Figs – 8, 7, 80–85):— Frustules rectangular, lanceolate in girdle view with weakly convex margins (Figs 7, 8), constricted in the middle (i.e. biarcuate), with numerous copulae (Fig. 18). Longest valves linear (Figs 80, 83, 85), linear-lanceolate, smaller valves becoming elliptic-lanceolate (Figs 4, 13, 15, 27). Apices broadly rounded (Figs 4, 15, 27), to almost cuneate (Figs 2, 3, 13). Valve margins in the middle ranging from occasionally almost straight (Fig. 83) to, usually, weakly (Figs 3, 5) to moderately (Figs 4, 9) convex. Valve dimensions (n = 26): valve length 20–42 µm, valve width 4.5–7.0 µm. Occasionally, weakly silicified valves, probably in state of formation, and easily “squashed” on the slides, appear to have a larger valve width (see for instance Figs 81, 82, 84). Axial area very narrow, linear. Central area variable in size, from very narrow (Figs 9, 11), almost rectangular (Figs 3, 16) to bow-tie-shaped fascia, widening towards the margin (Figs 2, 4, 5, 27). Raphe filiform, slightly curved to straight, with enlarged central raphe endings, and elongated, unilaterally bent, terminal raphe fissures. Striae fine, parallel, occasionally very weakly radiate in the middle, 28–30(32) in 10 µm. Areolae not or occasionally slightly individually discernible in LM. SEM observations (Figs 9– 7, 86–87):— Externally, valve face curving into a deep mantle (Figs 29, 38). Raphe almost straight (Figs 29, 32, 36, 39) or sometimes weakly undulating (Fig. 35). Central raphe endings weakly curved and enlarged (Figs 29–30, 32–33, 35, 37), occasionally straight and only weakly expanded (Figs 39–40). At the apices, axial area triangularly widening, forming a silica flap (Figs 38, 41) on one side covering the terminal raphe fissures. Fissures continuing shortly onto the mantle (Figs 31, 34, 35, 38, 39, 41), clearly unilaterally bent (Figs 35, 36) to weakly hooked (Fig. 38). Striae uniseriate, composed of cribrate areolae of almost equal size (Figs 30, 35, 39, 40, 45) to slightly larger near the axial area (Figs 37, 40, 41). Larger areolae, apparently formed by merging two adjacent areolae occasionally present near the axial area (Figs 31, 87, arrows). Areolae continuing around the apices (Figs 31, 34, 38). Cribra composed of usually four (Figs 34, 37, 40, 42), rarely five (Figs 33, 34, 40) peripheral pores, although very rarely, up to 6–7 very small peripheral pores were observed (Fig. 41), or very occasionally only 1–3 (Fig. 45). In general, areolae near the axial area more complex, with more peripheral pores, whereas areolae on the rest of the valve face simplified having a lower number of peripheral pores (Figs 40, 45). Central cribrum pores usually single or absent (Figs 30, 37, 40), occasionally 2–3 (Figs 31, 33, 34, 41). Areolae uniformly distributed over the valve face, ca. 40 in 10 µm. Internally, areolar openings square to rectangular (Figs 46, 47), to almost rounded (Figs 43, 45). Internal raphe branches straight, located on a distinctly raised sternum. Central raphe endings terminating onto double helictoglossae (Figs 43, 45, 46). Stauros narrow, located on a wider hyaline fascia (Figs 43–46). Terminal raphe endings finish onto broad helictoglossae (Figs 46, 47). Ecology and associated diatom flora:— The species was often found in the epilithon of tidal pools at Hannah Point (samples 11 and 13, and LT10), having variable salinity levels between 11.5 and 33.7 (Table 2), but it was most abundant in sample 13. The diatom flora of this sample included Melosira spp. and several unidentified Navicula taxa in larger numbers.
Published as part of Zidarova, Ralitsa, Haan, Myriam De, Ivanov, Plamen, Hineva, Elitsa & Vijver, Bart Van De, 2022, The genus Craspedostauros E. J. Cox (Bacillariophyta) on the coasts of Livingston Island, Maritime Antarctica, pp. 1-24 in Phytotaxa 572 (1) on pages 4-7, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.572.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7305672