Diatoms of North AmericaDiatoms of North America
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Compare Odontidium mesodon

(Ehrenb.) Kütz. 1844

Compare

Diatoma vulgaris is more elliptic with a greater density of striae and costae. Odontidium hyemale is larger and more linear. Tetracyclus hinziae is septate and the ends are more apiculate in larger valves. Tetracyclus rupestris is septate and has a broad axial area. Small valves of T. rupestris and O. mesodon are quite similar, occupy the same habitats and have frequently been confused with one another.

LM scalebar = 10 µm
Odontidium mesodon LM7 Odontidium mesodon LM2 Odontidium mesodon LM6 Odontidium mesodon LM4 Odontidium mesodon LM3 Odontidium mesodon LM1 Odontidium mesodon LM5
Length Range
10–40 µm
Width Range
6–12 µm
Striae in 10 µm
25-35

Diatoma vulgaris

Bory 1824

Diatoma vulgaris LM4 Diatoma vulgaris LM3 Diatoma vulgaris LM5 Diatoma vulgaris LM1 Diatoma vulgaris LM2
Length Range
15-60 µm
Width Range
8–12 µm
Striae in 10 µm
50-60

Odontidium hyemale

(Roth) Kütz. 1844

Odontidium hyemale LM4 Iwb 0002 2 20170509 05 Cl Odontidium hyemale LM1 Iwb 0002 2 20170509 03 Cl Iwb 0025 1 20170509 05 Cl Odontidium hyemale LM2 Odontidium hyemale LM3
Length Range
16.7-51.3 µm
Width Range
6.6-10.6 µm
Striae in 10 µm
24-28

Tetracyclus hinziae

Bishop and Spaulding 2015

Tetracyclus hinziae LM3 Tetracyclus hinziae LM1 Tetracyclus hinziae LM6 Tetracyclus hinziae LM7 Tetracyclus hinziae LM2 Tetracyclus hinziae LM4 Tetracyclus hinziae LM5
Length Range
8.2-35.5 µm
Width Range
5.6-14.0 µm
Striae in 10 µm
20-27

Tetracyclus rupestris

(Braun ex Rabenh.) Grunow in Van Heurck 1885

Tetracyclus rupestris LM4 Tetracyclus rupestris LM1 Tetracyclus rupestris LM6 Tetracyclus rupestris LM2 Tetracyclus rupestris LM7 Tetracyclus rupestris LM3 Tetracyclus rupestris LM5
Length Range
8.0-22.4 µm
Width Range
4.7-8.4 µm
Striae in 10 µm
24-28