Mallomonas cronbergiae (Chrysophyceae, Stramenopiles), A New Species from the Guineo-Congolian Rainforest in Cameroon

Abstract

A new species of Mallomonas Perty, M. cronbergiae J. Piątek sp. nov., was found in a tropical shallow stream pool in the Guineo-Congolian rainforest in Cameroon. It belongs to the series Ouradiotae and is similar to the three other Mallomonas taxa from this series, namely M. ouradion Harris & Bradley, M. parvula Dürrschmidt and M. parvula var. nichollsii Wujek & Bland, but differs in some morphological characters that clearly differentiate M. cronbergiae as a distinct species. The new species has a different size of scales, characteristic 3–7 pores at the posterior rim, an anterior flange ornamented with papillae, and a shield thickly ornamented with papillae (14–16 per scale width). The species is described and illustrated with the use of light and scanning electron microscopy.