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Name derivation:
From the Greek diktyon, a net, and ochos, anything that bears or holds - presumably in reference to the basket-like skeleton.
Morphology:
Unicellular flagellate with three life-history stages having different morphologies. One is a uninucleate, silica skeleton-producing form; it is followed by a multinucleate amoeba-like stage, which is followed by a uninucleate naked stage. The naked-stage cell bears heterokont flagella, a long flagellum, with stiff lateral hairs known as mastigonemes, and a very short vestigial smooth flagellum. Only the long flagellum is apparent in the skeleton-bearing stage. The skeleton is made of silica and is shaped like a flat basket.
Similar genera:
Dictyocha is the only known extant genus of silicoflagellates. Dictyocha is a synonym for Distephanus.
Habitat:
Marine. Dictyocha is widespread throughout the world's oceans but is more prevalent in cold waters, where it can form blooms.
References:
GRAHAM L. and WILCOX L. 2000. Algae. Prentice-Hall LEE R.E. 1999. Phycology 3rd ed. Cambridge University Press