Bacillaria sp. form chains by stacking their thin rectangular cells. Cells slide past each other to move appearing stacked or staggered. Bacillaria is very active and cells are often observed in motion. Cells possess a raphe, which runs the entire length of the cell. Two plate like chloroplasts are present near each end of the cell. Cells are thin 5 – 8 um wide but range in length 70 – 200 um.
Relative Abundance: Rare
Habitat: Cosmopolitan in marine brackish and freshwater, may be benthic or planktonic.
Sources & Credit:
https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/research/phytoplankton/diatoms/pennate/bacillaria/b_paxillifera.html