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Pardhi, S.; Murugesan, Y.; Kociolek, J. P.; Karthick, B. (2025). Comments on Gomphonema species with broad axial area and a description of new species from Western Ghats, India. Nova Hedwigia.

511829

10.1127/nova_hedwigia/2025/1114 [view]

Pardhi, S.; Murugesan, Y.; Kociolek, J. P.; Karthick, B.

2025

Publication

Available for editors   [request]

Among Gomphonema species, those with broad axial areas are found predominately in tropical and subtropical habitats. However, taxonomic clarity within this group has historically been elusive, leading to misinterpretations and wrong proposals of synonymies. Recent research has introduced many new species with broad axial areas, shedding light on their distribution patterns, and biogeographical analyses have further elucidated geographic ranges, revealing both regional endemism and cosmopolitan distributions of some of the species of Gomphonema in this group, especially across Asia and Africa. In this study, a new freshwater Gomphonema species with a broad axial area, Gomphonema sangamii sp. nov., is described from an epilithic sample at the Muvattupuzha River, situated in the Southern Western Ghats of Kerala, India. The present study describes the new species based on light and scanning electron microscopy. Features that distinguish this new species from others in the genus include valve shape, striae, areolae, and raphe structures. Description of the new species from this region will increase the biodiversity value of Western Ghats. We also discuss the distribution of Gomphonema species with broad axial areas.

Indian Subcontinent

Bacillariophyta

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