Afrocymbella
Krammer 2003 Category: Asymmetrical biraphid
TYPE SPECIES: Afrocymbella reichardtii Krammer
CLASS: Bacillariophyceae
ORDER: Cymbellales
FAMILY:
- Valves dorsiventral, curved along pervalvar axis
- Apical pore field present at the footpole
- Septum and pseudoseptum present, small
SPECIES OF AFROCYMBELLA ARE NOT KNOWN TO OCCUR IN NORTH AMERICA
The valves of Afrocymbella are asymmetrical to both the apical and transpical axis. In addition, the valves are curved along the pervalvar axis. An apical porefield is present at the footpole, which is bisected by the terminal raphe. The raphe is dorsally deflected at the proximal end and ventrally deflected at the terminal end. One, or rarely two, dorsal stigmata are present. A small septum and pseudoseptum are both present.
This genus is known to contain 10 species from African rift lakes and includes A. beccari. The genus is allied with the Gomphonema lineage and has developed secondary cymbelloid symmetry. Previously, the group was considered within Gomphocymbella.
Cite This Page:
Spaulding, S., and Edlund, M. (2009). Afrocymbella. In Diatoms of the United States. Retrieved June 18, 2013, from http://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu/taxa/genus/Afrocymbella
Contributor: Sarah Spaulding | Mark Edlund - January 2009
Reviewer: Sam Rushforth
Citations
Kociolek, J.P. and Stoermer, E.F. (1993). The diatom genus Gomphocymbella O. Muller: taxonomy, ultrastructure and phylogenetic relationships. Nova Hedwigia, Beihefte 106: 71-91.
Krammer, K. (2003). Cymbopleura, Delicata, Navicymbula, Gomphocymbellopsis, Afrocymbella. Diatoms of Europe. Diatoms of the European Inland Waters and Comparable Habitats 4: 1-530.