Parmales (Chrysophyceae) from the Gulf of Tehuantepec, Mexico, including the description of a new species, Tetraparma insecta sp Nov., and a proposal to the taxonomy of the group

There are few studies dedicated to species of the Order Parmales all over the world. All 12 taxa described are part of the marine ultraplankton (less than 5 mum). Analysis of filtered samples from the Gulf of Tehuantepec yielded specimens of two taxa of the group. One is a new species, belonging to the genus T etraparma . T etraparma insecta sp. nov. is solitary and spherical (2.8-3.8 mum diameter), and all plates lack ornamentations or knobs, the walls are smooth, and only the plate junctions are seen. The shield plates are convex and show a conspicuous rim, some of them with an indentation. This species shows superficial similarities with T etraparma pelagica , the other species described of the genus, and is very similar to siliceous forms, previously found, with no formal name. The other species is the taxon Triparma laevis form mexicana (Kosman) stat. nov., earlier described for Mexican waters, which has an irregular ala, the shield plates have knobs at the center, the triradiate plates show a "Y"-shaped keel, and the walls of plates and ala show minute granules. T etraparma insecta was distributed widely in the study area and was relatively abundant, reaching a density of 4x10(4).L-1, with an evident preference for subsurface waters (10-20 m depth), whereas T. laevis form mexicana was rare and scarce. Both species seem to be restricted to tropical-subtropical waters. We discuss the taxonomy of Parmales, especially concerning the category of subspecies within the group. Parmales is a widespread group in cold and tropical waters.