Ebria Borgert, 1891
Holotype species: Ebria fornix (Möbius) Borgert
Original publication and holotype designation: Borgert, A.H.C. (1891). Über die Dictyochiden, insbesondere über Distephanus speculum; sowie studien an Phaeodarien. Zeitschrift für wissenschaftliche Zoologie 51: 629-676.
Description: Unicellular biflagellate with unequal flagella subapically inserted; nearly ovoid or globose cells with internal silica skeleton consisting of a framework of narrow rugose or spiny rods which, analogous to sponge spicule terminology, consist of an initial triradial rod (triode), of which the main longitudinal rod (rhabde) branches to "actines", secondarily to "clades" of 3 types (Deflandre, 1934), skeleton symmetry is nearly bilateral. Nucleus with condensed chromatin (but not homologous to dinoflagellate nuclei), giving a faintly granular appearance by light microscopy, nucleolus often prominent; mitochondria with tubular cristae; chloroplasts and cell wall lacking. Living cells, 18-40 &m, swim erratically in a helical path (hence the genus name, from ebrius = "drunken") but shed flagella when disturbed. Cell division apparently asexual with duplication of skeleton before separation; sexual stages and cysts unknown. Widespread in coastal temperate, tropical, and boreal waters, less common in oceanic areas; eurythermal and apparently somewhat euryhaline; rarely abundant, occasionally over 104/liter. Nutrition herbivorous, primarily nanoplankton diatoms, occasionally dinoflagellates. Classification as algae is problematical.
Information contributed by: P. Hargraves. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2023-01-29 by E.A. Molinari Novoa.
Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.
Gender: This genus name is currently treated as feminine.
Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Sournia, A. (1986). Atlas du phytoplancton marin. Volume I: Cyanophycées, Dictyophycées, Dinophycées, Raphidophycées. pp. [1]-219. Paris: Éditions du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 15, quai Anatole France - 75700 Paris.
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Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera,
organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA)
and intended to be published in CD format.
These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above.
The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.
Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.
Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=45451
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
E.A. Molinari Novoa in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 29 January 2023. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 24 April 2024
