Ebria Borgert, 1891
Classification:
Empire Eukaryota
Kingdom Chromista
Subkingdom Harosa (supergroup SAR)
Infrakingdom Rhizaria
Phylum Cercozoa
Superclass Ventrifilosa
Class Thecofilosea
Subclass Eothecia
Order Ebriales
Family Ebriaceae
Holotype species: Ebria fornix (Möbius) Borgert
Original publication and holotype designation: Borgert, A.H.C. (1891). Über die Dictyochiden, insbesondere über Distephanus speculum; sowie studien an Phaeodarien. Zeitschrift für wissenschaftliche Zoologie 51: 629-676.
Taxonomic status: currently recognized as a distinct genus.
Gender: This genus name is currently treated as feminine.
Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Sournia, A. (1986). Atlas du phytoplancton marin. Volume I: Cyanophycées, Dictyophycées, Dinophycées, Raphidophycées. pp. [1]-219. Paris: Éditions du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 15, quai Anatole France - 75700 Paris.
Description: Unicellular biflagellate with unequal flagella subapically inserted; nearly ovoid or globose cells with internal silica skeleton consisting of a framework of narrow rugose or spiny rods which, analogous to sponge spicule terminology, consist of an initial triradial rod (triode), of which the main longitudinal rod (rhabde) branches to "actines", secondarily to "clades" of 3 types (Deflandre, 1934), skeleton symmetry is nearly bilateral. Nucleus with condensed chromatin (but not homologous to dinoflagellate nuclei), giving a faintly granular appearance by light microscopy, nucleolus often prominent; mitochondria with tubular cristae; chloroplasts and cell wall lacking. Living cells, 18-40 &m, swim erratically in a helical path (hence the genus name, from ebrius = "drunken") but shed flagella when disturbed. Cell division apparently asexual with duplication of skeleton before separation; sexual stages and cysts unknown. Widespread in coastal temperate, tropical, and boreal waters, less common in oceanic areas; eurythermal and apparently somewhat euryhaline; rarely abundant, occasionally over 104/liter. Nutrition herbivorous, primarily nanoplankton diatoms, occasionally dinoflagellates. Classification as algae is problematical.
Information contributed by: P. Hargraves. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 29 Jan 2023 by E.A. Molinari Novoa.
Numbers of names and species: There are 6 species names in the database at present.
Names: ('C' indicates a name that is accepted taxonomically; 'S' a homotypic or heterotypic synonym; 'U' indicates a name of uncertain taxonomic status, but which has been subjected to some verification nomenclaturally; 'P' indicates a preliminary AlgaeBase entry that has not been subjected to any kind of verification. For more information on a species click on it to activate a link to the Species database):
Click here to also show infraspecific names in the list below.
Verification of data
Users are responsible for verifying the accuracy of information before use, as noted on the website Content page.
Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera,
organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA)
and intended to be published in CD format.
These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above.
The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.
Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.
Created: 16 April 2003 by M.D. Guiry
Verified by: 29 January 2023 by E.A. Molinari Novoa
Linking to this page: http://admin.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=45451
Citing AlgaeBase
Please cite this record as:
E.A. Molinari Novoa in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2025. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 21 June 2025.
