Abstract
Two new species of Mastogloia, M. abnormis and M. descrepata, are described from the saline Sawa Lake, in South Iraq. These species belong to the Mastogloia section Sulcatae, which is characterized by the presence of a central furrow on the external valve face. Descriptions of these species are based on light microscope (LM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) features that distinguish them from other taxa. Mastogloia abnormis exhibits few morphological features that are not shared by any described species in the genus, while M. descrepata is similar to, but distinct from, M. vestigiostriata, M. belaensis, and M. braunii. Both taxa were found as epiphytes on the submerged Lamprothamnium sp. that is dominant on the bottom of Sawa Lake. Environmental conditions where the species were common included high salinity and elevated concentrations of calcium sulphate (gypsum). The ecology of these new species is discussed.
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