Licmophora pfannkucheae Giffen, 1970

Joh, Gyeongje, 2021, Distribution and frequent occurrence of diatom taxa (Bacillariophyta) inhabiting warmer oceans in Seogwipo coast of Jeju Island, southernmost Korea, Phytotaxa 517 (1), pp. 1-67 : 21

26. Licmophora pfannkucheae Giffen ( Figs 55–57 , 188–192 )

Type locality: Red algae in swamps near mouth of Kowie River, Port Alfred, South Africa .

References: Giffen 1970, p. 278, pl. 3, figs 41, 42; Witkowski et al. 2000, p. 67, pl. 18, fig. 16.

Morphometrics: Valves 82–175 (100–200) μm long, 7–8 (7–8) μm wide at the head, transapical striae 23–26 (25–30) in 10 μm.

Remarks: This species is closely similar to Licmophora flabellata (Greville) Agardh in the valve morphology and dimensions ( Lobban & Schefter 2013). But Licmophora pfannkucheae has two spines at the head apex, and a bit sparser striae than L. flabellata (25–30 vs 30–33 in 10 μm). The latter taxon also has two spines on the valve apices, but they are much smaller than the former, whereas the spines of the former taxon can be observed under the light microscopy. This taxon is predominant in the southeast coasts of South Africa, being used as fish foods ( Christensen 1978), has been reported from Namibia ( Witkowski et al. 2000), and from New Zealand ( Harper & Harper 2010). It is subtropical taxon, mainly distributed in coasts of South Africa and other regions near it. This species was rare as epiphyte on seaweeds along the Seogwipo coast in Jeju Island, representing a new record for South Korea.

Figures

FIGURES 46–57. Diatom taxa of Seogwipo coast in Jeju Island (6). Figs 46–49. Ardissonea formosa. Fig. 50. Ardissonea sp. Figs 51–54. Toxarium hennedyanum. Figs 55–57. Licmophora pfannkucheae. Scale bars = 10 μm.

FIGURES 185–192. Diatom taxa of Seogwipo coast in Jeju Island (19). Figs 185, 186. Leudugeria janischii: the internal valve and septa at apex (Fig. 185) and external valve (Fig. 186). Fig. 187. Hyalosynedra lanceolata. Figs. 188–192. Licmophora pfannkucheae: head of external valves showing two spines and rimpoportuae in the sternum (Figs 188, 189), internal view of rimpoportulae (Fig. 190), and tail apex of internal and external valves (Figs 191, 192) Figs 185–192: SEM. Scale bars = 20 μm (Figs 185, 186), 5 μm (Fig. 187), 2 μm (Figs 188, 190–192), 1 μm (Fig. 189).