''Odontella aurita'' is a

diatom A diatom (Neo-Latin ''diatoma''), "a cutting through, a severance", from el, διάτομος, diátomos, "cut in half, divided equally" from el, διατέμνω, diatémno, "to cut in twain". is any member of a large group comprising sev ...

and the type species of genus ''

Odontella ''Odontella'' is a genus of marine diatoms.Tomas, C. R., Hasle G. R., Syvertsen, E. E., Steidinger, K. A., Tangen, K., Throndsen, J., Heimdal, B. R., (1997). ''Identifying Marine Phytoplankton'', Academic Press. It contains the following specie ...

''. The easiest way to identify this species is by recognizing the very distinct shape of the cells belonging to this genus. ''Odontella aurita'' is cultivated industrially for human consumption due to its ability to produce up to 28% of its total lipids as

eicosapentaenoic acid Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; also icosapentaenoic acid) is an omega-3 fatty acid. In physiological literature, it is given the name 20:5(n-3). It also has the trivial name timnodonic acid. In chemical structure, EPA is a carboxylic acid with a 20-c ...

(EPA), a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA).Guiheneuf, F., Fouqueray, M., Mimouni, V., et al. (2010). "Effect of UV stress on the fatty acid and lipid class composition in two marine microalgae Pavlova lutheri (Pavlovophyceae) and Odontella aurita (Bacillariophyceae)", Journal of Applied Phycology. PUFAs such as EPA are known to provide a variety of health benefits in humans, and are commonly obtained by fish oil. However, with the increasing concern of over-exploited fisheries, microalgae are a promising source of PUFAs as they can be grown year-round and their fatty acid profile and content are easily manipulated by growth conditions. Chen, Y C. (2012). "The biomass and total lipid content and composition of twelve species of marine diatoms cultured under various environments", Food Chemistry.

Species description

Two or more labiate processes per valve. Numerous chloroplasts lying against the cell walls. Cells in straight chains.Tomas, C. R., Hasle, G. R., Syvertsen, E. E., Steidinger, K. A., Tangen, K., Throndsen, J., Heimdal, B. R., (1997). ''Identifying Marine Phytoplankton'', Academic Press. Often found in long chains in coastal waters, it frequently acts as an attachment platform for other diatoms. Tiffany, M.A., Lange, C.B., (2002). "Diatoms provide attachment sites for other diatoms: a natural history of epiphytism form southern California", Journal of Phycology.

References

External links

Algaebase
Coscinodiscophyceae Species described in 1832 {{Diatom-stub