Abstract
Diprora haenaensis gen. et sp. nov. Main, an araphid filamentous diatom, is described from a cryptic, pseudoaerial habitat in Kaua'i, Hawaiian Islands. The valve ends of this new diatom have pervalvar extensions of the mantle edges, termed here prows. The frustules are heavily silicified and usually heterovalvar (one valve surface convex and the other concave). Convex and concave valves have different orientations of the row of marginal pores. The prows of the valves overlap in intact frustules. Each epicingulum consists of the two prows and two lateral band segments, one on each side of the frustule between the prows. The hypocingulum has a similar shape and orientation, but is hidden inside the epicingulum and hypovalve margin. In other words, a valvocopula consists of two bands, one on each side of the frustule separated by the two prows of the valve. The fimbriae of the pars interior of the valvocopula are flap-like. The frequency of post-auxospore stages, valve size distribution, and possible occurrence of resting spores are discussed. The association of heterovalvy with filament formation is more suggestive of centrics than pennates; however, its symmetry, valve and pore ultrastmcture, and life history taken together are more indicative of a pennate affiliation. Diprora appears to belong to the Fragilariophycidae, but the most similar genus within that class is Hyalinella.