Compare Nitzschia exilis
Nitzschia exilis is distinguished from N. columbiana, with which it co-occurs, by being more slender and having much finer fibulae. Sovereign (1958) suggested a resemblance with N. gracilis, differing from that commonly reported species by the fine fibulae and their variation in size within a single individual.
LM scalebar = 10 µm
Length Range
24-64 µm
24-64 µm
Width Range
2-3 µm
2-3 µm
Striae in 10 µm
Not visible in the light microscope
Not visible in the light microscope
Length Range
25-70 µm
25-70 µm
Width Range
3-5 µm
3-5 µm
Striae in 10 µm
Striae not visible to only faintly visible
Striae not visible to only faintly visible
Length Range
15.0-50.0 µm
15.0-50.0 µm
Width Range
1.5-4.0 µm
1.5-4.0 µm
Also compare to
Nitzschia gracilis
BioData Reference
Krammer and Lange-Bertalot 2/2 Pl 66 Fig 1-11