Fottea X:X | DOI: 10.5507/fot.2026.003

A new Platessa Lange-Bertalot species and a Planoplatessa Kulikovskiy et al. (Achnanthidiaceae, Bacillariophyta) species from two high altitude lakes in southwest China

Kun Zheng1, 2, Ji-Min Huang1, Jun Luo4, Cheng-Zhi Ding2, 3, John Patrick Kociolek5, Yan-Ling Li1
1 Yunnan Key Laboratory of Ecological Protection and Resource Utilization of River-lake Networks, Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, P. R. China
2 Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-security, Institute of International Rivers and Eco-security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, P. R. China
3 Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Transboundary Eco-Security of Southwest, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, P. R. China
4 Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Forestry and Grassland Bureau No. 70, Changzheng Avenue, Jiantang Town, Shangri-La City Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China
5 Museum of Natural History and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado-80309, USA

A new monoraphid diatom species, Platessa deqinensis sp. nov., and Planoplatessa joursacensis (Héribaud) Kulikovskiy et al. are reported from high-altitude lakes of the Hengduan Mountains region in southwestern China. Detailed morphological characteristics of both species are documented based on light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Platessa deqinensis is similar to P. mugecuonesis, P. lanceolata, P. stewartii and P. bahlsii, but it differs from these species in terms of its valve outline, size, stria density and SEM details. Planoplatessa joursacensis, is illustrated with LM and SEM. We discuss the morphology of this species and its reported broad distribution over space and time. Populations of P. joursacensis from Asia are compared with specimens from the type locality, Joursac, France. The discovery of these species enhances our understanding of monoraphid diatom diversity and the unique diatom flora in southwestern China.

Keywords: diatoms, morphology, new species, Planoplatessa, Platessa, scanning electron microscopy

Received: November 12, 2025; Revised: January 27, 2026; Accepted: April 24, 2026; Prepublished online: September 9, 2026 

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