Arthrospira skujae, a New Planktic Tropical Cyanoprokaryote

Two populations of cyanophytes that produce screw-like coiled trichomes were examined in order to elucidate their taxonomic position. The first population was collected in an Amazonian reservoir in June 1989. From the investigations of this species, it was possible to establish a new species of Arthrospira (A. skujae) that had previously been classified by Skuja (1949) from Burma under the name “Spirulina gigantea” (sine typo). The second, similar population was collected in the littoral zone among water plants, of a small, shallow pond in the southeastern part of Brazil, which corresponded to Arthrospira jenneri. Both species were evaluated statistically, and the measurements, drawings, photos and comparisons with closely related species are presented.