Diatoms such as this specimen of Coscinodiscus are photosynthetic. You are viewing an individual single-celled specimen. The yellowish-brown spots in the specimen are chloroplasts. In this photo, the opal shell is not highlighted.

Although round or centric diatoms such as this one are common, diatoms exhibit a wide range of shapes. View a variety of specimens to get a feel for the look of diatoms.

Photograph by Wim van Egmond.

For more information about diatoms, check out:
Big Diatoms: Photographing Coscinodiscus

Diatoms

Back

Updated: Oct. 22, 2002

©1999-2002 by the Regents of the University of California.
All rights reserved.