Epithemioid Diatoms
Epithemioid diatoms are similar in shape to diatoms from the genus Amphora. They are symmetrical over the transapical axis, but asymmetrical over the apical axis. The raphe system appears on or near the valve margin, and in valve view it is often said to make the diatom look like the shape of a mustache. (The photo to the right is of an epithemioid diatom in girdle view.)
​
​
For whatever reason, only one epithemioid diatom was found during the sampling and cataloging effort used to provide the pictures for this website. It is from the genus Epithemia, and is the specimen pictured to the right. However, more species of epithemioid diatoms are known to be present in Lake Mendota and in other Wisconsin waters from other algae sampling efforts. For a more comprehensive list of epithemioid diatoms, not specific to Lake Mendota, you can visit diatoms.org here.
