Achnanthidium bratanense sp. nov. (Bacillariophyceae, Achnanthidiaceae), a new diatom from the Lake Bratan (Bali, Indonesia)

Abstract

A new species, Achnanthidium bratanense, is described from Lake Bratan, located on the island of Bali (Indonesia). The morphology of this species was analyzed with light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A. bratanense is characterized by linear-elliptic to nearly elliptic valves with convex margins and rounded, broadly subcapitate apices. The striae of this species are hardly discernable under LM; they are weakly radiate throughout the valve and composed of one to four large transapically elongated areolae of different length and shape. The most similar taxon to A. bratanense is A. macrocephalum, a species described from Sumatra, another Indonesian island. The differences of A. bratanense from similar taxa are discussed.