Cylinder-scales in marine flagellates from the genus Chrysochromulina (Haptophyceae = Prymnesiophyceae) with a description of C. pachycylindra sp. nov.

Abstract

A new species of Chrysochromulina Lackey with exceptionally long cylinder-scales distributed evenly over the cell is described and illustrated with electron micrographs of shadowcast whole mounts of wild material from the Galapagos Islands, South Africa and the English Channel. In all cells, the cylinder-scales are underlain and outnumbered by highly characteristic plate-scales, each with a conspicuous infra-marginal ridge on the distal face. Some consistent dimensional and other differences between periplasts from Africa and the Galapagos Islands are noted, with the British equivalents approximating more closely to the former though with minor differences from both. The observations are interpreted in a preliminary way, but further comment including comparisons with other taxa will follow.