Skeletonema menzelii sp. nov., a new diatom from the western Atlantic Ocean

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Abstract
A newly discovered diatom species, Skeletonema menzelii, has been isolated from the Western Sargasso Sea. In the light microscope it is distinguished from the closely related species S. costatum and S. tropicum by generally smaller cell size, fragility of the shells, shorter chain length, and irregular spacing of the cells, which are usually lenticular in shape. S. menzelii has at most two chloroplasts per cell, like S. costatum, but S. tropicum has not less than four, usually more. Electron microscopy reveals that S. menzelii valves have 5–14 marginal strutted tubuli (‘spines’) and a single, generally central labiate process. The valve has a pattern of fine radiate thickenings over a finely perforate silica membrane. This differs from the more heavily aerolate pattern of the other two species. S. menzelii, like S. tropicum, is a warm water species, while S. costatum is eurythermal. S. menzelii is slightly more stenohaline than S. costatum.

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