Kittonia Grove & Sturt, 1887
Lectotype species: Kittonia elaborata (Grove & Sturt) Grove & Sturt
Original publication: Grove, E. & Sturt, G. (1887). On a fossil marine Diatomaceous deposit from Oamaru, Otago, New Zealand. Part III. Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club, Series 2 3: 63-78, pls 5, 6.
Type designated in: Lefébure, P. & Chenevière, E. (1939). Description et iconographie de Diatomées rares ou nouvelles. II.. Bulletin de la Société Française de Microscopie 8(1): 21-25, 1 plate.
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 elliptical in valve view with two conspicuous processes ending in flattened swellings. A fossil genus of nine species (VanLandingham, 1971) but requiring re-investigation. Prominent in the Eocene Oamaru deposit of New Zealand. Valves elliptical, shallow, with a prominent marginal flange and two (in some species three) extended processes. These arise from clear areas of the valve face about half-way between centre and margin; the axis on which they lie is at approximately 45° to the apical and transapical axes of the valve. The processes are at first plain, tubular and bent outwards, but end in flattened swellings, lying parallel to the valve, perforated by rows of fine pores forming a type of 'ocellus'. A clear central area is present bearing a cluster of short tubes externally (the openings of the rimoportulae). Surrounding this central area the valve rises and then falls and rises again to the marginal flange. Rows of large areolae radiate from the centre, the areolae containing fine cribra. Internally the framework is conspicuously ribbed between the uniseriate rows of areolae. Fine slits/pores occur on the ribs both on the tops and sides; these open to the outside through the simple pores. A narrow valve mantle extends beneath the marginal flange and is provided with a row of areolae. The mantle extends beneath the row of areolae and in this region is finely perforate. Rimoportulae clustered, central, with tubular extensions externally, but sessile internally and lying in a slight depression. Small pores occur around and between the rimoportulae. We have no data on the cingulum.
The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2022-11-24 by M.D. Guiry.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: Sims, P.A. & Williams, D.M. (2022). Description of the new species Kittonia kempii (Biddulphiales: Kittoniaceae) with comments on Kittonia hannai P. Lefébure & Chenevière and Kittonia gigantea (Greville) De Toni. Phytotaxa 573(2): 275-285, 33 figs, 3 tables.
Comments: Kittonia is one of the most striking of diatoms. Its classification in the 'biddulphioid' section is based on the assumption that the pores at the apices of the processes form ocelli. The strucure of the vela is very much like that in Biddulphia.
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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=46630
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 24 November 2022. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 19 April 2024
