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Name derivation: |
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Greek Odont meaning tooth ella suffix added to nouns to form diminutives.
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Classification: |
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Odontella C.Agardh, 1832. There are 83 species of which 14 have been taxonomically accepted. Order Triceratiales, Family Triceratiaceae
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Morphology: |
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Treated as unicellular in PhycoKey, but often forms short filaments. In girdle view cells are smooth and can be swollen to straight in the middle with two horns at each corner end that can vary in length. Two spines are also present at each end in between the two horns. Valve can be elliptical or bi-polar with a horn at each pole. Each horn has an ocellus or (colored eyespot pattern). The cells can be in both straight and zig-zag chains. They are united by both horns in a straight chain and are united by only one horn in a zig-zag chain. There are numerous small chloroplasts lying against each wall.
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Similar genera: |
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Some species were previously regarded as Biddulphia spp., but belong to Odontella because they have ocelli (round elevated regions of silica whose surfaces bear pores). Mucilage excreted through the ocelli pores is used in attachment to substratum or other cells in a colony. Also distinguishing Odontella from Biddulphia is the presence of lipped processes with long external tubes called rimoportula, also involved in mucilage secretion and extrusion resulting in slow movement.
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Habitat: |
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Marine. Some species attach to a substrate and develop long filaments. Can be found in warm to temperate regions as well as in southern cold water regions.
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References: |
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Agardh, C.A. 1832. Conspectus Criticus Diatomacearum. Part 4. pp. 49-66. Lundae [Lund]: Literis Berlingianus. Guiry, M.D. and G.M. Guiry 2013. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 19 September 2013. |
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