Epithemia argus var. alpestrus Wm. Smith

                                                                                                                    
Length: 47

Width: 10

Striae: 12

Costae: 2-3































Collection 1776

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Authority information


Epithemia argus var. alpestrus (Wm. Smith 1853) Grunow 1862, p32d, 3/28 (VanLandingham 1969).



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The image of this specimen was captured using DIC. It helps to distinguish fine detail.















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The dorsal margin of the valve is convex and the ventral margin is slightly concave. There are somewhat recurved apices that are distinctly rostrate and capitate. The raphe is aparent along the ventral margin of the valve for part of its length. There is a central nodule at the midpoint of the valve or sometimes nearer the ventral margin.The costae ends in the girdle view are capitate. Distinguished by its distinctly capitate rostrate apices. (Patrick and Reimer 1975).


Type Locality

USA, New England states, New Jersey, Florida, Illinois, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Minnesota, and Washington. (Patrick and Reimer 1975).


Synonyms

    Epithemia alpestrus W. Smith, Syn. British Diat., vol. 1, pg. 13, pl. 1, fig. 7, 1853.
    Epithemia argus var. amphicephala Grun in V.H. Syn. diat. Belgique, pl. 31, fig 19. 1881. (Text p. 140) 1885.
    Cystopleura argus var. alpestris Ehr. DeT., Syll. Alg., vol. 2, sect. 2, p. 783. 1892. (Patrick and Reimer 1975).


Ecological distribution



Found in lakes, ponds, rivers, oozing areas on rock walls and thermal springs. Oligohalobous, prefers water with a salt content less than 500 mg/L. Acidophilous, alkaliphilous and alkalibiontic. (Beaver 1981).




Size ranges and morphology


  • Length is 55 to 62 micrometers (Patrick and Reimer 1975).
  • Width is 7 to 10 micrometers (Patrick and Reimer 1975).
  • Costae are about 3 in 10 micrometers (Patrick and Reimer 1975).
  • Alveoli rows are 11 to 14 in 10 micrometers (Patrick and Reimer 1975).