Ali Hamadai, Paul Brian Hamilton, Mansour Bouhameur, Saci Mennad, Abdullah A. Saber, Nesil Ertorun, Boutheina Sahraoui, Cüneyt Nadir Solak
This paper describes two new species of Halamphora—Halamphora mujdatiana sp. nov., H. tabelbalaensis sp. nov. and records for the first time Halamphora elongata from fossil deposits in the Algerian Sahara Desert. The study utilized light and scanning electron microscopy to examine valve morphology. These species were found in Holocene lacustrine deposits of Hassi Manda in the Erg Er Raoui. The newly identified species, H. mujdatiana is characterized by larger rounded areolae towards to margin while smaller areolae in the central area with a very narrow raphe ledge. Additionally, ventral striae on the external face are composed of biseriate areolae in the central area and uniseriate areolae towards to the apices. Halamphora tabelbalaensis is distinguished by long elongated areolae on the striae and uniseriate areolae at the apices. © 2026 Magnolia Press.
University Oran 2 Mohamed Ben Ahmed, FSTU, Stratigraphic Paleontology and Paleoenvironment Laboratory, Department of Earth Science, BP 1015, Oran, 31000, Algeria; University of Hassiba Benbouali, Chlef, Department of Geology, B.P 78C, Ouled Fares, Chlef, 02180, Algeria; Canadian Museum of Nature, P.O. Box 3443, Station D, Ottawa, K1P6P4, ON, Canada; Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia Square, Cairo, 11566, Egypt; Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Eskişehir, 26040, Turkey; Kütahya Dumlupınar University, Science & Art Faculty, Biology Department, Kütahya, 43000, Turkey; Department of Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, University of Brawijaya, East Java, Malang, 65145, Indonesia
