Reviewing taxonomy, expanding geography, and supplying supporting evidence for the morphology of Euastrum compereanum from Mozambique and Namibia

Abstract

In this study, the authors report the discovery of a rare desmid species (Euastrum compereanum) in Mozambique and Namibia. The species was previously documented from only three African countries, namely Chad, Zambia, and Botswana. In a prior publication about desmids from Namibia a line drawing of this species was included, but the species was identified as E. platycerum var. eximium forma. This paper aims to address this taxonomic discrepancy, rectify the identification, and provide a definitive name assignment. Furthermore, our research expands the known distribution of E. compereanum by introducing a novel geographical record in Mozambique. Aside from the taxonomic correction and geographical distribution expansion, the paper offers the very first photographic documentation of its cellular morphology. Previous publications on this species solely relied on line drawings, making this publication a significant advancement in the understanding of its cell structure.