Light micrograph of the marine diatom Amphitetras antediluviana. The diatoms are a distinctive group of single-celled algae containing about 10,000 sp

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Light micrograph of the marine diatom Amphitetras antediluviana. The diatoms are a distinctive group of single-celled algae containing about 10,000 species. They form an important part of the plankton at the base of the marine & freshwater food chains. The characteristic feature of diatoms is their intricately patterned, glass-like cell wall, or frustule. The frustule consists of 2 halves which fit together like the lid & bottom of a box. The frustule is often decorated with rows of tiny holes, known as striae, which are arranged either radially (as here) or on the 2 sides of a central axis. Magnification: x400 at 35mm size.

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Size: 3539px × 5043px
Photo credit: © CLAUDE NURIDSANY & MARIE PERENNOU/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: alga, algae, algal, amphitetras, antediluviana, botany, diatom, diatoms, light, micrograph, nature, phytoplankton, plankton, plant