Diatoms of North AmericaDiatoms of North America

Navicula cryptotenella

Lange-Bert. in Krammer and Lange-Bert. 1985

Navicula cryptotenella guide
  • Category
    Symmetric Biraphid
  • Length Range
    15-40 µm
  • Width Range
    4.8-6.8 µm
  • Striae in 10 µm
    14-16

Identification

Navicula cryptotenella LM9 Navicula cryptotenella LM8 Navicula cryptotenella LM1 Navicula cryptotenella LM4 Navicula cryptotenella LM3 Navicula cryptotenella LM7 Navicula cryptotenella LM2
View image metadata
Navicula cryptotenella SEM2

Description

Valves are narrowly lanceolate to rhombic-lanceolate, with acute ends. The axial area is narrow and linear. The central area is small, often with shortened striae forming an irregular shape. Striae are radiate, becoming convergent or parallel at the apices. Lineolae number 35-40 in 10 µm. The raphe is filiform or weakly lateral, with the external slit almost straight, positioned on a raised sternum. External proximal raphe ends are straight, or slightly deflected. Pores are slightly expanded.

North American specimens shown here are aligned with the species description of Lange-Bertalot (Krammer and Lange-Bertalot 1985) for N. cryptotenella, for example reaching the width of 6.8 µm. However, we note that North American specimens differ from the type, in that lineolae are usually visible with DIC optics, despite their high density. We observed that lineolae of specimens in the Van Heurck Collection (#107 located at ANSP) are not visible. We are not sure whether areolae are indeed different, or we are viewing an artefact of an older preparation. Sagnet et al. (2022) make similar comments about specimens from the Van Heurck Collection slide in Belgium.

It should also be noted that specimens from the type population of N. cryptotenella from Belgium (shown in the Autecology tab and also illustrated by Sagnet et al. 2022) are on the smaller (4.5-5.5 µm) end of the valve width range given in the original description (5-7 µm). It is possible that the original description includes multiple morphologically similar species. 

The original Lange-Bertalot circumscription of N. cryptotenella is followed here, as further distinction is not realistic for the purpose of routine sample analysis.

Autecology

This taxon is commonly reported from inland waters of temperate zone. It is especially abundant in rivers but is also found in lakes and wetlands. This species is mostly found in circumneutral to alkaline waters of moderate mineral content. Its wide distribution may be the result of several cryptic or semicryptic species being included in the broad concept of the species.

VH107 NA Vcrypt sizeseries
Specimens from type slide (Van Heurck 107) of Navicula cryptotenella.

Original Description

Valvae anguste ad rhombico-lanceolatae apicibus acute rotundatis non protractis, 14-40 μm longae, 5-7 μm latae. Raphe filiformis sive leviter obliqua poribus centralis distinctis modice distantis. Area axialis anguste linearis, abbreviatione irregulare striarum nonnullarum medianorum in aream centralem irregularem valde parvam transiens. Striae transapicales in partibus medianibus valvae radiantes, ad fines versus parallelae denique convergentes, (12)14-16(extra ordinem 18?)/ 10 μm. Lineolae plerumque indistinctae (REM = 35-45/10 μm). 

Differt a Navicula radiosa, Ν. capitatoradiata, Ν. menisculus, Ν. heimansii poris centralibus mutatis.

  • Author
    Lange-Bert. 1985
  • Length Range
    14-40 µm
  • Width
    5-7 µm
  • Striae in 10µm
    14-16

Original Images

Navicula Cryptotenella Ill2
Navicula Cryptotenella Ill1
Navicula Cryptotenella Ill3
Navicula Cryptotenella Descr

Cite This Page

Potapova, M., Spaulding, S. (2026). Navicula cryptotenella. In Diatoms of North America. Retrieved April 05, 2026, from https://diatoms.org/species/45826/navicula_cryptotenella

Responses

The 15 response plots show an environmental variable (x axis) against the relative abundance (y axis) of Navicula cryptotenella from all the stream reaches where it was present. Note that the relative abundance scale is the same on each plot. Explanation of each environmental variable and units are as follows:

ELEVATION = stream reach elevation (meters)
STRAHLER = distribution plot of the Strahler Stream Order
SLOPE = stream reach gradient (degrees)
W1_HALL = an index that is a measure of streamside (riparian) human activity that ranges from 0 - 10, with a value of 0 indicating of minimal disturbance to a value of 10 indicating severe disturbance.
PHSTVL = pH measured in a sealed syringe sample (pH units)
log_COND = log concentration of specific conductivity (µS/cm)
log_PTL = log concentration of total phosphorus (µg/L)
log_NO3 = log concentration of nitrate (µeq/L)
log_DOC = log concentration of dissolved organic carbon (mg/L)
log_SIO2 = log concentration of silicon (mg/L)
log_NA = log concentration of sodium (µeq/L)
log_HCO3 = log concentration of the bicarbonate ion (µeq/L)
EMBED = percent of the stream substrate that is embedded by sand and fine sediment
log_TURBIDITY = log of turbidity, a measure of cloudiness of water, in nephelometric turbidity units (NTU).
DISTOT = an index of total human disturbance in the watershed that ranges from 1 - 100, with a value of 0 indicating of minimal disturbance to a value of 100 indicating severe disturbance.