Auricula complexa (Gregory) Cleve (Auriculaceae, Bacülariophyceae) is mentioned for the first time to coastal waters of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil. The species was found in plankton samples collected from March/1987 to February/1988 in four stations located in a line perpendicular to the coast. Description, distribution in the area studied, and ecological data are givem. Auricula complexa (Gregory) Cleve was observed in 9 out of the 48 samples examined, with percentages not higher than 0,5% of the total phytoplancton population.
diatom; plankton; Pernambuco