Home / Diatoms / Pennate / Unicells / Biraphes / Asymmetric / Rhopalodia
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Name derivation:
Classification:
Rhopalodia Otto Müller; 24 of 65 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2014). Order Rhopalodiales; Family rhopalodiaceae
Morphology:
Unicellular biraphe diatom with dorsiventral symmetry, a raphe positioned on the dorsal side of each valve, and planar (flat) valve faces.
Similar genera:
Habitat:
Freshwater and marine; often epiphytic or benthic. Also reportedly subaerial. Grow in nitrogen deficient habitats and some have an endosymbiotic relationship with cyanobacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some species include Rhopalodia gibba and Rhopalodia musculus.
References:
Guiry, M.D. and G.M. Guiry 2014. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 2 May 2014. Müller, [G.F.] O. 1895. Rhopalodia ein neues Genus der Bacillariaceen. Botanische Jahrbucher fur Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie 22: 54-71, 2 pl.