Coscinodiscophycidae is a subclass of
diatom
A diatom (Neo-Latin ''diatoma'') is any member of a large group comprising several Genus, genera of algae, specifically microalgae, found in the oceans, waterways and soils of the world. Living diatoms make up a significant portion of Earth's B ...
s, previously known as "Centrales", a
paraphyletic
Paraphyly is a taxonomic term describing a grouping that consists of the grouping's last common ancestor and some but not all of its descendant lineages. The grouping is said to be paraphyletic ''with respect to'' the excluded subgroups. In co ...
order of centric diatoms, a major group of algae and one of the most common members of the
phytoplankton
Phytoplankton () are the autotrophic (self-feeding) components of the plankton community and a key part of ocean and freshwater Aquatic ecosystem, ecosystems. The name comes from the Greek language, Greek words (), meaning 'plant', and (), mea ...
.
Families
*
Thalassiossiraceae
*
Melosiraceae
*
Leptocylindraceae
*
Coscinodiscaceae
*
Stellarimaceae
*
Hemidiscaceae
*
Asterolampraceae
*
Heliopeltaceae
Description
Valves generally have a marginal ring of processes. They usually have symmetry with no polarities.
[
]
See also
* Biddulphiineae
References
Coscinodiscophyceae
Diatom taxa
{{Diatom-stub