Home / Bacillariophyceae / Centric / Filaments / Stephanopyxis
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Name derivation:
Classification:
Stephanopyxis (Ehrenberg) Ehrenberg 1845; 35 of 168 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2013). Order Melosirales; Family Stephanopyxidaceae or Stephanopyxaceae (Nikolaev 1984).
Morphology:
Filaments of cylindrical to subspherical cells, with domed valves, joined with a ring of silicaceous processes between cells. Discoid and lobed chloroplasts.
Similar genera:
Easily confused with Coscinodiscus when in the girdle view.
Habitat:
Marine plankton, common, most abundant in tropical oceans.
References:
Ehrenberg, C.G. (1845). Neue Untersuchungen über das kleinste Leben als geologisches Moment. Bericht über die zur Bekanntmachung geeigneten Verhandlungen der Königlich-Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, 1845: 53-87. Guiry. M.D. and G.M. Guiry 2013. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 21 Dec 2013.