Abstract
The genus Thalassionema Grunow ex Mereschk. 1902 belongs to the monotypic order Thalassionematales Round 1990 currently estimated as 20 taxa of specific and infraspecific rank. Research of the species diversity of this genus is known to be relevant due to the wide distribution of its representatives, their dominance in plankton and benthos, and the fact that they remain poorly studied. The study aimed to investigate the taxon Thalassionema frauenfeldii (Grunow) Temp. et Perag., apparently being of a cryptic species complex. Description of new form of T. frauenfeldii f. pontica f. nov., inhabiting the Black Sea coastal waters, was carried out based on structure of the interstria spinules along the valve edge and the direction of rimoportula slit. The establishment of taxonomic status of this infraspecific taxon within the framework of T. frauenfeldii in accordance with valve morphology data was discussed.
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