Guide to Diprora

The genus Diprora is monotypic (contains a single species) and, to date, is known only from the state of Hawai'i. The genus is tentatively placed in the Fragilariophyceae, although the relation of Diprora to other related taxa is uncertain. This taxon is somewhat similar to the marine taxon, Hyalinella, although Diprora lacks an ocellus-like structure. The filamentous araphid morphology suggests an affinity to the fragilariod group of diatoms (Main 2003).

Cells of Diprora are small (less than 45 µm) and are joined into filaments, connected at the concave and convex surfaces of each valve face. Each valve possesses a single row of pores located near the valve margin. At the valve apices, the valve is extended into a pointed prow. Within a frustule, the prows of the two valves overlap. A hemispherical, to band-like, cingulum fills the gap between the apical prows.