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Issue: Vol. 782 No. 3: 30 Oct. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-10-30
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.782.3.2
Page range: 221-238
Abstract views: 43
PDF downloaded: 4

Five new Humidophila species (Bacillariophyta, Diadesmidaceae) from aerophilic and subaerophilic habitats in the karst region of southern Guizhou, China

College of Life Sciences; Shanghai Normal University; Shanghai 200234; China
College of Life Sciences; Shanghai Normal University; Shanghai 200234; China
Museum of Natural History and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; University of Colorado; UCB 218; Boulder; CO 80309; USA
Department of Biological Sciences; Bowling Green State University; Bowling Green; Ohio; USA
School of Environment and Geographical Sciences; Shanghai Normal University; Shanghai 200234; China
School of Chemistry; Biology and Environment; Yuxi Normal University; Yuxi; Yunnan 653100; China; Research Institute of Biology and Environmental Engineering; Yuxi Normal University; Yuxi; Yunnan 653100; China
College of Life Sciences; Shanghai Normal University; Shanghai 200234; China
College of Life Sciences; Shanghai Normal University; Shanghai 200234; China
College of Life Sciences; Shanghai Normal University; Shanghai 200234; China
karst diatoms Humidophila subaerophilic habitats new species taxonomy Algae

Abstract

Five new species of Humidophila were discovered and described from aerophilic and subaerophilic habitats in the karst region of Guizhou Province, China. The morphological features of the five species were observed and documented using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Humidophila trituberculata sp. nov. is distinguished by three inflations along the valve, producing a uniquely undulate outline. Humidophila liboensis sp. nov. exhibits slight inflations at the center and apices, with the raphe enclosed within raised ridge-like structures. Humidophila levigata sp. nov. has a smooth external valve surface, with both the proximal and distal raphe ends bifurcated. Humidophila pseudobigibba sp. nov. has subcapitate apices and two distinct inflations on the valve surface. Humidophila scutiformis sp. nov. possesses a shield-shaped valve outline, with absent or partially absent striae and a complete internal hymenate covering. These five species are compared with other similar Humidophila taxa, and the morphological features are discussed.

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How to Cite

Li, Y., Zhou, H.W., Kociolek, J.P., Lowe, R.L., Yu, P., Luo, F., Xu, L.L., Wang, Q.X. & You, Q.M. (2026) Five new Humidophila species (Bacillariophyta, Diadesmidaceae) from aerophilic and subaerophilic habitats in the karst region of southern Guizhou, China. Phytotaxa 782 (3): 221–238. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.782.3.2