Kingdom Plantae Class Bacillariophyceae Rank Genus | Division Bacillariophyta Family Bacillariaceae Order Bacillariales | |
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Similar Surirella, Diploneis, Nitzschia, Achnanthes, Fragilaria | ||
Bacillaria paxillifer diatomea
Species
LifeStyle
Photosynthetic. Reproduces sexually and asexually.
Description
Cells are elongated and motile, sliding along each other in stacked in Colony (biology). Cells are rectangular in girdle view (when in colonies), and lanceolate in valve view. Raphe system is slightly keeled and runs from pole to pole. Two large plate-like Chloroplast are present, one near each end of the cell. The Nucleus is located centrally. Cells are yellow-brown in colour. Fibulae are strong, and the valve surface is covered in transverse parallel Stretch marks.
Measurements
Length (apical axis): 70 - 200 μm
Width ([1] trans-apical axis): 5 - 8 μm
Height ([2] Pervalvar axis): 5 - 10 μm
Fibulae: 7 - 9 in 10 μm
Striae: 20 - 21 in 10 μm
Habitat
Benthic zone, marine and brackish/freshwater species, but is also commonly found in Plankton.
