This research was conducted to find the indigenous diatom species unrecorded in Korea from February to December 2016. The samples were taken at 28 sites of the coastal regions on the west coast of Korea and Jeju Island. Diatoms were collected mostly from sand and mud of tidal flats, including gravel, seaweed on the bottom and macrophytes floating in the seawater. Diatom specimens were observed by means of light and scanning electron microscopy. Twenty one species were discovered and added as new specimens to the Korean diatom flora, which are divided into 9 orders, 12 families, and 16 genera. The list and photographs of the species are included with the description of the morphological characteristics and distribution in Korea.

Several species of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia produce the neurotoxin domoic acid (DA) known to be responsible for amnesic shellfish poisoning. Recently off the coast of Geomundo and in Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Korea Strait, P. cf. brasiliana predominated in summer, 2010. As P. cf. brasiliana was new to Korea, we describe the morphological characteristics of the species. It was observed that cells were linear to lanceolate in valve and girdle view, 51~76 μm long and 1.9~2.6 μm wide. In the central part a large interspace was absent. The number of fibulae and striae in 10 μm were 30~37 and 31~37. Each stria contained 2~3 rows of poroids, with 10 to 14 poroids in 1 μm length. These morphological features of P. cf. brasiliana were found to be similar with the P. brasiliana, except with the fact that P. cf. brasiliana carred more numbers of fibulae/striae in 10 μm and poroids in 1 μm. Based on our observation, we suggest that P. cf. brasiliana is a newly identified Pseudo-nitzschia species or a variety of P. brasiliana.