Tabellaria fenestrata lacks marginal spines, has distinctly capitate apices, and a narrow axial area, but lacks a hyaline central area. The girdle bands in T. fenestrata are open and lack rudimentary septa.
Tabellaria flocculosa var. linearis has similar apices (they are not distinctly capitate). Apices are as wide, or wider, than the central inflation. There is no hyaline central area in T. flocculosa var. linearis. Rudimentary septa may be present.
According to Koppen (1975) Tabellaria quadriseptata lacks distinguishing characters from T. flocculosa and they should be considered conspecific.