Cyclotella choctawhatcheeana is very similar; both taxa are ornamented on one side of the tangential undulation. Cyclotella choctawhatcheeana is larger and has a higher stria density. Cyclotella ambigua and C. baltica are colliculate across the valve center. Cyclotella distinguenda and C. gamma are both tangentially undulate, but both lack ornamentation in the central valve.