Entomoneis tenera sp. nov., a new marine planktonic diatom (Entomoneidaceae, bacillariophyta) from the Adriatic Sea

The genus Entomoneis Ehrenberg includes diatoms with structurally complex frustules having a bilobate keel elevated above the valve surface and numerous girdle bands. We describe here a new member of the genus, Entomoneis tenera sp. nov., a minute species found in the plankton of the south-eastern Adriatic Sea. The description and proposed taxonomic affiliation are based on both morphological observations and molecular analyses obtained from three cultivated strains. The cultures were established from plankton net samples taken during BIOTA (Bio-tracing Adriatic Water Masses) cruise conducted in February-March 2015. In addition to characteristic Entomoneis features such as panduriform cells, often twisted around the apical axis and a raphe with simple endings positioned on the sigmoid keel, morphological characteristics of E. tenera are: (1) very small cells, 16-21 μm long and 5-20 μm wide (2) very lightly silicified, delicate frustules without valve striation discernible in light microscopy, (3) broad lanceolate valves with scalpeliform apices (4) a straight to slightly arcuate junction line. Phylogenetic analyses using SSU, rbcL and psbC supported the position of E. tenera within the Entomoneis genus with a clear separation from the other described species.