Home / Diatoms / Pennate / Unicells / Biraphes / Asymmetric / Keeled / Hantzschia
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Name derivation:
Morphology:
Solitary cells that can be straight or sigmoid generally found in girdle view. Each cell usually contains two plastids, but rarely contains four. Two raphes are on the same side, usually the less convex, ventral side of the cell. The cell has a marginal keel at one side of the valve. Rectangular in girdle view with the keel showing on both the top and bottom of the cell.
Similar genera:
Nitzschia is a similiar genus, but differs in that the frustules of Nitzschia are square instead of rectangular in girdle view. The keeled margins of a pair of valves are diagonal to eachother instead of being opposite eachother like Hantszchia.
Habitat:
Hantszchia is found in both freshwater and marine habitats especially in intertidal sand.
References:
Round, F. E., Crawford, R. M., Mann, D. G. 1990. The Diatoms. Cambridge University Press. New York, NY. Smith, Gilbert, 1950. The Fresh-Water ALgaie of the United States. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. New York, NY.