Achnanthidium delmontii sp. nov., a new species from French rivers

A new freshwater diatom species belonging to the genus Achnanthidium Kütz. has been found in several French rivers namely those of the Languedoc–Roussillon and Rhin–Meuse regions. Achnanthidium delmontii sp. nov. is described based on light and scanning electron microscopy observations. This species belongs to the group of Achnanthidium taxa with terminal raphe fissures curved to the same side of the valve and it is compared to the most related species: Achnanthidium pfisteri Lange–Bertalot, Achnanthidium pyrenaicum (Husdedt) Kobayasi, Achnanthidium temniskovae Ivanov et Ector and Achnanthidium zhakovschikovii Potapova. The assessment of its ecology was made through physicochemical analysis carried out on sites which are part of water quality monitoring networks. Some comments are made on the rapid expansion of Achnanthidium delmontii sp. nov.