Keratophora Pantocsek, 1889

Lectotype species: Keratophora nitida Pantocsek

Original publication: Pantocsek, J. (1889). Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Fossilen Bacillarien Ungarns. Brackwasser Bacillarien. Anhang: Analyse der marinen Depôts von Bory, Bremia, Nagy-Kürtös in Ungarn; Ananino und Kusnetzk in Russland. Vol. 2 pp. [1]-123 , 30 pls. Nagytapolcsány: Julius Platzko.

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Type designated in: Ross, R. & Sims, P.A. (1985). Some genera of the Biddulphiaceae (diatoms) with interlocking linking spines. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) 13: 277-381.

Fossil: This is a genus of fossil species, or a genus with a fossil type species, or a genus the type species of which was originally described as a fossil.

Description: Cells ellipsoidal in valve view with two elevations arising from transapical ridges; the elevations unite the cells into inseparable chains (Ross & Sims, 1985). Rectangular in girdle view. A small fossil genus (3 spp. in VanLandingham, 1971, but monotypic according to Ross & Sims, 1985) known from Hungary and Russia, in deposits of Eocene age; presumably marine. Valves oval, traversed by two raised, transapical ridges from the centres of which arise two elevations; these bend towards the apices but finally bend again so that the flat tops of their slightly swollen apices lie parallel to the plane of the valve. The elevations have pores radiating from the outermost point, forming a lateral ocellus. The flat top is also porous but less densely so, and is surrounded by a ring of ridges (these are the remains of eroded linking spines, which are illustrated well by Ross & Sims, 1985); in our material the ridges are higher on the side opposite the ocellus. The valve surface is areolate with an indistinct radiating pattern; the areolae are round. No vela are present in the material investigated, but Ross & Sims illustrate a substantial velum. There is a prominent, vertical valve mantle which at high magnification appears to be finely ridged or possibly finely porous. There are no obvious portules either in our material or that of Ross & Sims. The cingulum is illustrated in Ross & Sims and consists of porous bands, which are split and ligulate; further work is necessary to revale the full detail.

The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2011-10-20 by M.D. Guiry.

Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Round, F.E., Crawford, R.M. & Mann, D.G. (1990). The diatoms biology and morphology of the genera. pp. [i-ix], 1-747. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Comments: This is a genus close fo Kittonia though differing in the structure of the processes which are reminiscent of those in 'hemiauloid' genera. According to Ross & Sims the genus is monotypic; their excellent paper also gives details of the history of the genus and compares it with Dicladiopsis, Strelnikovia and Thaumatonema, all fossil genera which we have not been able to study.

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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=46629

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 20 October 2011. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 28 March 2024

 
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