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Achnanthidium kriegeri can be distinguished from Achnanthidium minutissimum by its broader striae, which are parallel throughout both valves. The valves of Rossithidium nodosum are broader and lack a central, asymmetrical hyaline area. Rossithidium pusillum is broader and generally greater in length. Specimens of R. pusillum also have denser striae which are narrower and composed of a single row of areolae.

LM scalebar = 10 µm
47  Lm1 47  Lm5 47  Lm3 47  Lm4 47  Lm6 47  Lm2 47  Lm7
Length Range
6–21 µm
Width Range
2.1-2.9 µm
Striae in 10 µm
21-23

Rossithidium nodosum

(A.Cleve) Aboal 2003

Rossithidium nodosum LM10 Rossithidium nodosum LM8 Rossithidium nodosum LM2 Rossithidium nodosum LM6 Rossithidium nodosum LM4
Length Range
9.0-11.9 µm
Width Range
2.9-3.3 µm
Striae in 10 µm
16-20

Rossithidium pusillum

(Grunow) Round and Bukht. 1996

Rossithidium pusillum LM6 Rossithidium pusillum LM8 Rossithidium pusillum LM10 Rossithidium pusillum LM2 Rossithidium pusillum LM4 Rossithidium pusillum LM12
Length Range
10–16 µm
Width Range
3.1-4.1 µm
Striae in 10 µm
20-24

Achnanthidium minutissimum

(Kütz.) Czarn. 1994

Achnanthidium minutissimum LM4 Achnanthidium minutissimum LM3 Achnanthidium minutissimum LM7 Achnanthidium minutissimum LM2 Achnanthidium minutissimum LM6 Achnanthidium minutissimum LM1 Achnanthidium minutissimum LM5
Length Range
5.6-20.8 µm
Width Range
1.5-3.3 µm
Striae in 10 µm
25-35

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