Chelonicola Majewska, De Stefano & Van de Vijver, 2015

Majewska, Roksana, Kociolek, J. P., Thomas, Evan W., Stefano, Mario De, Santoro, Mario, Bolaños, Federico & Vijver, Bart Van De, 2015, Chelonicola and Poulinea, two new gomphonemoid diatom genera (Bacillariophyta) living on marine turtles from Costa Rica, Phytotaxa 233 (3), pp. 236-250 : 241

Chelonicola Majewska, De Stefano & Van de Vijver , gen. nov.

Frustules isovalvar, wedge-shaped in girdle view. Girdle composed of a large number (>10) of open, perforated bands of equal width. Valvocopula bearing a septum at the headpole and the second copula with a septum at the footpole. Valves heteropolar with a broadly rounded headpole and an acutely rounded footpole. Pseudosepta and apical pore field absent. Raphe straight to very weakly curving. Proximal raphe endings unilaterally weakly deflected towards the primary side. Distal raphe fissures elongated, deflected to the secondary side, continuing on both poles shortly onto the mantle. Internal proximal raphe endings covered by silica flap and distal raphe endings straight, terminating on weakly developed helictoglossae. Striae uniseriate, composed of several small, rounded areolae. Areolae internally occluded by hymenes.

Type:— Chelonicola costaricensis Majewska, De Stefano & Van de Vijver , sp. nov.

Etymology:—The generic name refers to the epizoic habitat where it was found: living (Latin: - cola = living on) on the carapaces of sea turtles (Latin: Chelonia = turtle)