Hippodonta Guide
Credit: Marina Potapova
  1. Striae distinct, broad
  2. Striae uniseriate or biseriate
  3. Valve termini with polar bars

Species in Hippodonta possess thick, heavily silicified valves. Valves are generally lanceolate in valve outline with variously shaped poles. The striae are distinct, broad and may be uni-seriate or biseriate. The valve termini are thickened bands of silica, termed polar bars.The raphe is straight and the proximal raphe ends are dilated. Two chloroplasts are present in living cells.

Hippodonta includes the former Navicula capitata Ehrenberg, N. hungarica Grunow and allies. Species of Hippodonta grow in a wide range of benthic habitats, particularly in mid to higher salinity inland and coastal waters.