There are several types of valve structure in diatoms, and one of them is termed pseudoloculate. The pseudoloculate valve structure is an ancient evolutionary feature, found in numerous early diatom groups, including such bizarre genera as Gladius or Gladiopsis. In more recent lineages, Stephanopyxis and Triceratium (but only in the strict sense!) are good examples of pseudoloculate valve …
Looking at siliceous microfossil slides made of Eocene deep-sea core materials, you may find a curious circular or polygonal object. It resembles a coin, but usually has some radial features on the circular surface, or surfaces. It lacks the innumerable perforations that you usually see on a diatom valve, and is composed of solid silica. …
Some diatom genera are tricky and easily confused with other taxa, especially when examined in light microscope only. But Rutilaria is different: you cannot possibly mistake it for any other diatom. It may look insignificant at first, just another elongate shape among all diatoms. But when you take a closer look at the way the …
Almost exactly ten years ago, in March 2011, I had a remarkable experience. The Central European Diatom Meeting was held at University of Szczecin, with lots of colleagues attending, including Nina Strelnikova. It was the third time I met her. During the coffee breaks, Nina was keen to show me some scanning electron micrographs that …
Rumor has it that Eocene diatoms are stunning. Let me convince you this is by no means an exaggeration by sharing the story of an unusual diatom, Keratophora nitida, first described by Josef Pantocsek in 1889. Keratophora nitida Pantocsek as seen in Scanning Electron Microscope Josef Pantocsek was a distinguished Hungarian diatomist. If you start …
Eocene sediments have a reputation for unusual diatoms, and Strangulonema barbadense is no different. It was described by Robert Kaye Greville in 1865 from the famous diatom-bearing deposits of Barbados. Strangulonema lived in the middle Eocene, some 40 million years ago. Its barrel-shaped cells, with characteristic narrow necks were fused to form chains. It appears …
Fossil Diatoms 