Diatoms of North AmericaDiatoms of North America
Return to overview

Compare Nitzschia inconspicua

Grunow 1860

Compare

Nitzschia soratensis has been often confused with this taxon and smaller valves of these taxa may not be distinguishable. Nitzschia soratensis has rounded apices, and distinctly rounded fibulae. The areolae are not resolvable in N. soratensis.

Nitzschia innominata has more elongate valves, with rounded to subrostrate apices.

Nitzschia abbreviata is very similar in shape. The striae of N. abbreviata have occluded areolae (SEM). The striae are biseriate close to the raphe canal.

The valves of N. frustulum are wider (3-3.9 µm).

LM scalebar = 10 µm
Nitzschia inconspicua LM2 Nitzschia inconspicua LM3 Nitzschia inconspicua LM6 Nitzschia inconspicua LM1 Nitzschia inconspicua LM5 Nitzschia inconspicua LM7
Length Range
5.4-13 µm
Width Range
2.4-3.3 µm
Striae in 10 µm
24-30

Nitzschia soratensis

Morales and Vis 2007

Nitzschia soratensis LM5 Nitzschia soratensis LM1 Nitzschia soratensis LM2 Nitzschia soratensis LM6 Nitzschia soratensis LM3 Nitzschia soratensis LM4
Length Range
3-17 µm
Width Range
2.0-3.3 µm
Striae in 10 µm
27-30

Nitzschia innominata

Sovereign 1958

Innominata 009 Innominata 004Tif Innominata 003 Innominata 002 Innominata 006 Innominata 008
Length Range
6-14 µm
Width Range
2-3 µm
Striae in 10 µm
26-30

Also compare to

Nitzschia frustulum

(Kütz.) Grunow in Cleve and Grunow

BioData Reference
Krammer and Lange-Bertalot 2/2 Pl 68 Fig 1-8

Nitzschia boliviana

Morales and Vis 2007

Nitzschia abbreviata

Hust. ex Simonsen

Nitzschia frustulum

(Kütz.) Grunow