Cymbella compacta and Cymbella lange-bertalotii have filiform proximal raphe ends, parallel striae or slightly radiate near the apices, and small areolae-like stigmata located at the end median ventral striae. Cymbella neocistula, C. neocistula var. islandica, C. blinnii and other species in the Cymbella neocistula complex have more dorsiventral valves and concave ventral margins with a tumid middle.

LM scalebar = 10 µm
Length Range
38-98 µm
Width Range
11-16 µm
Striae in 10 µm
8-13
Cymbella Fontinalis LM1
Cymbella Fontinalis LM2
Cymbella Fontinalis LM3
Cymbella Fontinalis LM4
Cymbella Fontinalis LM5
Cymbella Fontinalis LM6
Cymbella Fontinalis LM7
Cymbella Fontinalis LM1 Cymbella Fontinalis LM2 Cymbella Fontinalis LM3 Cymbella Fontinalis LM4 Cymbella Fontinalis LM5 Cymbella Fontinalis LM6 Cymbella Fontinalis LM7

Cymbella compacta

Østrup 1910

Length Range
45.6-78.3 µm
Width Range
11.4-15.3 µm
Striae in 10 µm
9-11
Cymbella Compacta1 Cymbella Compacta2 Cymbella Compacta3 Cymbella Compacta4 Cymbella Compacta5 Cymbella Compacta6 Cymbella Compacta7

Cymbella neocistula

Krammer 2002

Length Range
32-85 µm
Width Range
11-22 µm
Striae in 10 µm
7-10 at valve center, 10-13 near ends
Cymbella Neocistula  L 4 33 2 Cymbella Neocistula  L 4 33 1 Cymbella Neocistula  L 4 33 3 Cymbella Neocistula  L 4 33 4 Cymbella Neocistula  L 4 33 6 Cymbella Neocistula  L 4 33 5
Length Range
44-109 µm
Width Range
13.5-26.0 µm
Striae in 10 µm
8-11
Cymbella Neocistula Islandica1 Cymbella Neocistula Islandica2 Cymbella Neocistula Islandica3 Cymbella Neocistula Islandica4 Cymbella Neocistula Islandica5 Cymbella Neocistula Islandica6 Cymbella Neocistula Islandica7

Cymbella blinnii

Bahls 2014

Length Range
22.4-54.4 µm
Width Range
7.6-11.4 µm
Striae in 10 µm
10-14 at the valve center, 14-15 near the apices
Cymbella Blinnii1 Cymbella Sp 493501 2 Cymbella Blinnii3 Cymbella Blinnii4 Cymbella Blinnii5 Cymbella Blinnii6 Cymbella Blinnii7

Also compare to

Cymbella lange-bertalotii

Krammer