Gomphonema incrassata sp. n., a new benthic diatom species (Bacillariophyceae: Gomphonemataceae) from Walayar Dam, Palakkad district, Kerala, India

ABSTRACT

A new freshwater benthic diatom species, Gomphonema incrassata sp. n. (Mohan and Prabha), is described from the Walayar Dam, Palakkad district, Kerala, India. The description is based on data derived from light and scanning electron microscopic studies. The main features of Gomphonema incrassata are: valves are weakly heteropolar; linear-lanceolate; head pole is bluntly round; basal or foot pole is sharply rounded; and the frustule is club-shaped and flexed (bent) in the girdle view. In addition, the analysed physicochemical characteristics revealed that Walayar Dam is moderately polluted, due to various human activities. The newly identified freshwater diatom species adds to the knowledge of diatom diversity in the Indian subcontinent.

KEYWORDS:

• New species
• diatom

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Department of Environmental Sciences, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore-641 046, Tamil Nadu, India, for providing the necessary facilities during the study period.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).