• ALGAE
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.33-47
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• 2022

Two new species of Pseudostaurosiropsis are described based on material collected from rivers in southern United States of America, P. californicus sp. nov. and P. elaboratus sp. nov. Both species have specific characters that set them apart from taxa currently ascribed to the genus. Pseudostaurosiropsis californicus sp. nov. has lanceolate valves with subrostrate, broadly rounded apices, an axial area at the same level as the virgae in internal and external views and both are at the same level as striae in external view, the spine tips are dentate and their growth is produced by filamentous extensions, and it has equal-sized apical pore fields on both valve extremes. On the other hand, P. elaboratus sp. nov. has heavily silicified valves, the virgae are slender than the striae in outer view and wider in inner view, it only has a single, externally occluded apical pore field on one valve extreme, and the spines have a solid core. All species within Pseudostaurosiropsis are contrasted with one another and unique features are described for each based on literature and newly collected image data from type material. The genus is reconsidered and two distinguishing features are recognized: rotae externally occluding the areolae and areolae that are funnel-shaped. These features are contrasted with those in other genera and additional published species that should be included in Pseudostaurosiropsis are discussed.