Morphology and ecology of Thalassiosira Cleve (Bacillariophyta) species rarely recorded in Brazilian coastal waters.

The detailed description of rarely recorded Thalassiosira species in Brazil is presented with light microscope (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) illustrations. A total of 78 phytoplankton net samples (20 microm) collected between the years 2000 and 2006 in coastal waters of southern Brazilian, Cassino Beach and the estuary of Lagoa dos Patos, were studied in cleaned material using the Axiovert Zeiss LM and Jeol 6060 SEM. Water temperature and salinity of samples and six species are presented: Thalassiosira endoseriata, T. hendeyi, T. lundiana, T. minuscula, T. oceanica and T. wongii. Two species, Thalassiosira hendeyi and T. endoseriata were the most common being observed in all seasons at Cassino Beach in a wide temperature range (10-26 masculineC), while only sporadically in the estuary of Lagoa dos Patos. Thalassiosira endoseriata, T. lundiana, T. oceanica and T. wongii are for the first time reported in Brazilian coastal waters. The latter two species, rarely recorded in the world, are fully illustrated based on Brazilian material.