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Diagnostic features

Pennate diatom, boat shaped in valve view, both valves identical, each possessing a raphe (genus is biraphid).  A distinctive stauros (bare area of thickened silica across the centre of the valve face) creates a cross shape in valve view.  Chloroplasts golden brown.

Typical habitats

Our records are from clean water streams

Classification

Kingdom Chromista
Phylum Ochrophyta
Class Bacillariophyceae
Order Naviculales
Family Stauroneidaceae
Common name Diatoms