Abstract: A ceramic fiber-based filter element having a pleated geometry is provided. The pleated filter element comprises an elongated ceramic filter medium disposed circumferentially around a series of alternately opposing convex saddles along an axis. The alternately opposing convex saddles have root portions and orbicular heads. The root portion of each alternately opposing convex saddle is truncated by an opposing juxtaposition of the orbicular heads of the immediately anterior and posterior convex saddles along the axis. Also provided are methods of forming ceramic fiber-based filter elements having a pleated geometry and forming apparatuses that can be employed to form the same, as well as filter units made using filter elements having a pleated geometry.