Leptocylindrus minimus Gran
Division: Chromophyta
Class: Bacillariophyceae
Order: Biddulphiales
Suborder: Coscinodiscineae
Family: Leptocylindraceae Lebour
Genus: Leptocylindrus Cleve
Scientific name: Leptocylindrus minimus Gran
Species: minimus
References:
Hustedt, 1930: p. 560, Fig. 321; Hendey, 1964: p. 140, Pl. V: 3; Throndsen et al.,2007: p. 146.
Description:
1-2 elongate chloroplasts; diameter, 1.5-4.5 µm. Chains sometimes undulated,produces resting spores (Throndsen et al., 2007).
Dimensions:
Cells length 7-9 µm; diameter 3-4 µm.
Distribution:
Neritic species, widespread distribution.
Sites of occurrence in RSA:
In Winter 2006 Cruise, this species occurred at scattered stations (refer sites map), usually in small numbers; maximum abundance (2.3 10 3 cells/l) was associated with the Sea of Oman (St. 22a). It has been previously reported from Kuwaiti waters of the inner RSA (Al-Kandari et al., 2009).