Genus: Variable in shape; strong constriction at center; semicell ellipsoidal, polygonal, etc.; cell wall with simple or branching spines, most of them laterally aligned; 4 plate-like chloroplasts in each semicell; one or more pyrenoids in each chloroplast (Illustrations of The Japanese Fresh-water Algae, 1977).
Species (var. antilopauem) : Cell body 45-72 μm long, 43-71 μm wide, L/W = 1, constriction 13-25 μm wide, spines 19-22 μm long, semicells with 4 spines (2 anterior, 2 basal), cell wall at the center of semicells thickened and punctated (Illustrations of The Japanese Fresh-water Algae, 1977).