Terpsinoë
Ehrenberg 1843 Category: Centric
TYPE SPECIES: Terpsinoë musica Ehrenberg
CLASS: Coscinodiscophyceae
ORDER: Biddulphiales
FAMILY: Biddulphiaceae
- Valves elongate, margins undulate
- Valve center with rimoportula
- Porefields present at valve apices
- Transverse costae distinct
Terpsinoë is a multipolar, 'centric' diatom. The frustules are heavily silicified and elongate, with strongly undulate margins. Porefields are located at the valve apices. Internal, heavily silicified transverse costae are present. In girdle view, the transverse costae appear to form the shape of musical notes. Rimoportulae are positioned near the center of the valve face.
Terpsinoë grows commonly in tropical and subtropical regions, often on oceanic islands. In the US, Terpsinoë is known from groundwater springs in Texas (San Marco Springs) and Florida rivers (Wekiwa).
Cite This Page:
Spaulding, S., and Edlund, M. (2009). Terpsinoë. In Diatoms of the United States. Retrieved May 21, 2013, from http://westerndiatoms.colorado.edu/taxa/genus/Terpsinoe
Contributor: Sarah Spaulding | Mark Edlund - January 2009
Citations
Luttenton, M.R., Pfiester, L.A. and Timpano, P. (1986). Morphology and growth habit of Terpsinoe musica Ehr. (Bacillariophyceae). Castanea 51: 172-182. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4033384
Sterrenburg, F.A.S. (1994). Terpsinoe musica Ehrenberg (Bacillariophyceae, centrales), with emphasis on protoplast and cell division. Aquatic Ecology 28: 1573-5125.