Guide to Encyonopsis

Valves are naviculoid and slightly dorsiventral, symmetric to the transapical axis and asymmetric to the apical axis. The raphe is centrally located. Areolae in the striae are round or oblong and oriented with their long axes parallel to the transapical axis. Transapical striae are radiate near the valve center and radiate or parallel near the apices. Proximal raphe ends are deflected toward the dorsal margin. Distal raphe fissures are deflected ventrally. Stigmata and apical pore fields are absent.

Encyonopsis is distinguished from Kurtkrammeria by the orientation of the striae at the valve apices, by the shape and orientation of the areolae, and by other features observed in SEM. In Encyonopsis species, areolae are round or elongate in a transapical direction. In Kurtkrammeria, areolae are slit-like or crescent shaped with the long axis oriented apically. In Encyonopsis, the terminal striae are radiate or parallel; in Kurtkrammeria, terminal striae are convergent. Stigmata and apical pore fields may be present in Kurtkrammeria, but they are absent in Encyonopsis.