Diatoms of North AmericaDiatoms of North America
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Compare Achnanthidium atomus

(Hust.) Monnier, Lange-Bert. and Ector 2004

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Achnanthidium atomus is distinguished from other species in Achnanthidium by its small size, linear-elliptical shape, and characteristic striae pattern, which differs between the raphe and rapheless valve. Achnanthidium atomus differs from A. minutissimum by the absence of drawn-out valve apices and by the parallel striae on the rapheless valve.

LM scalebar = 10 µm
Achnanthidium atomus LM3 Achnanthidium atomus LM2 Achnanthidium atomus LM1 Achnanthidium atomus LM4
Length Range
9.9-21 µm
Width Range
3-3.5 µm
Striae in 10 µm
28-30 in raphe valve, 22-25 in rapheless valve

Achnanthidium minutissimum

(Kütz.) Czarn. 1994

Achnanthidium minutissimum LM4 Achnanthidium minutissimum LM3 Achnanthidium minutissimum LM7 Achnanthidium minutissimum LM2 Achnanthidium minutissimum LM6 Achnanthidium minutissimum LM1 Achnanthidium minutissimum LM5
Length Range
5.6-20.8 µm
Width Range
1.5-3.3 µm
Striae in 10 µm
25-35