The overlooked diversity within a well-known diatom: Unraveling the Luticola ventricosa complex
The Luticola ventricosa (Kützing) D.G.Mann has long been regarded as a morphologically variable and cosmopolitan species, yet its taxonomic concept has remained unstable due to the schematic original description. Recent revision of the type has provided a morphological framework, enabling critical reassessment of populations assigned to this species. During investigations focused on various populations originally treated as L. ventricosa, ten morphologically similar taxa were recognized within the complex. Four of these correspond to already described taxa (L. ventricosa, L. dubia, L. levkovii, L. ventriconfusa), while six taxa are described here as new to science: L. borealis sp. nov., L. exilissima sp. nov., L. jagodae sp. nov., L. lacunicola sp. nov., L. microventricosa sp. nov., and L. speluncae sp. nov. Results demonstrate that the diversity within the L. ventricosa complex has been substantially underestimated and that many earlier records of this species likely represent misidentifications. This study highlights the importance of detailed morphological revision, of even well-known species, for resolving cryptic diversity and improving understanding of species distributions and ecological differentiation.
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