Quick Guide to Common Diatom Genera in Freshwaters Part A

By Cathy Kilroy
YES
Aulacoseira
YES Very noticeable
patterns in girdle
and valve views
Centric NO
diatoms Melosira
Cells typically
in filaments
YES
NO Cyclotella
YES Different pattern in
the middle and
edge of valve

NO Similar or continuous pattern Cyclostephanos

from edge of valve to center
YES
Valves circular, Tabellaria
raphe or axial
area never present
YES
Meridion
Araphid Septa present YES Valves
(internal projections asymmetrical
diatoms transversely
NO from the girdle band)
NO Diatoma
NO
YES YES
Costae present Asterionella
(internal
projections on
the valve face YES
Valves elongated, Fragilariforma
elliptical or swollen NO YES Striae continuous
bilaterally. No Valves (part)
across valve face (or
Pennate raphe on either asymmetrical
axial area v. narrow)
diatoms valve transversely YES
(lengthwise) Valves linear Fragilaria
or oval NO

Raphe present YES

NO NO Staurosirella
NO on at least one Cells often form
valve chains (most Striae very thick
noticeable in live Centrally
samples) expanded Fragilariforma
NO (part)
NO
CONTINUED in Part B
Synedra
Part B
YES
Cocconeis
CONTINUED YES Usually a thick rim
Monoraphid on the raphe valve
diatoms
Genera related to
YES Round-oval with NO Achnanthidium
different patterns on
the two valves YES
Planothidium
An empty
“depression” to
NO one side on the YES
rapheless valve Achnanthes
Narrow axial
NO area on the
Raphe present raphless valve
on one valve YES
often to one side Achnanthidium
only
Small narrow cells,
striae denser
NO towards the poles
than at the centre

Striae evenly Rossithidium

NO
spaced

NO
YES
Actinella
YES
Valve heteropolar (the
YES two ends markedly
Raphes short on both different widths)
valves, to one side
Raphes visible as (sometimes barely
long or short lines
Eunotia
visible in valve view) NO
(slits) on the Valve shape and size
Biraphid valve surface of very variable
diatoms both valves Raphes markedly different
lengths on the two valves.
Raphes Curved in girdle view. YES
visible in Rhoicosphenia
NO Septa at valve poles.
NO girdle view
NO
Raphes
barely
visible
CONTINUED in part C CONTINUED in part D
Part C

Biraphid diatoms YES

Stenopterobia
CONTINUED

YES Valves narrow,

linear, may be
sigmoid
YES Gap in costae
at the valve
centre. Raphe
marginal NO Valves wide, more robust,
Surirella
variable sizes

YES
Epithemia
Raphe slits not Raphe canal visble
obvious Costae present
(internal projections on valve face,
(though a NO sometimes only at
thick raphe from the valve face,
appearing as dark the centre
canal may be
visible) lines)

Rhopalodia
NO
NB. Frustules appear
Raphe marginal, or NO bilaterally symmetrical
nearly marginal, in a because both valves are
canal enclosed by visible at the same time
struts (fibulae) – dark
dots in LM YES
Nitzschia

Focusing through
Raphes on whole frustules will
opposite sites show the raphe along
both sides

NO Hantzschia
Part D
YES
Gyrosigma
Biraphid diatoms
CONTINUED
S-shaped YES
Amphora
YES Striae very
short ventrally

Raphes long NO
Eunophora
on both For whole frustules, in NOTE: closely
Valves YES related to Eunotia
valves, ends clearly valve view, both
usually close sigmoid valves are visible lying
together at
YES
side by side Encyonema
the centre of
the valve YES Outer ends of
raphe point
NO Valves usually downwards
clearly half-
NO moon shaped, Cymbella
NO Central raphe
Valves often ends bend
asymmetrical downwards
bilaterally NO YES
Reimeria
Valves more or less
elliptical, with a clear
swollen area on one
side

NO Valves almost
Encyonopsis
NO bilaterally
symmetrical
YES
Gomphoneis
YES A discontinuity
visible in the
striae, parallel to YES
the valve edge Didymosphenia
Cells bilaterally
symmetrical (or Valves very large,
nearly so), but usually >100 mm
NO long, triundulate
asymmetrical
lengthwise
Gomphonema
NO Valve shape and
size very variable

CONTINUED in part E
Part E
YES
Diatomella
Biraphid diatoms Septum across whole
YES valve, 2 or 3 large
CONTINUED holes centrally placed

NO Septa on each side of the valve, Mastogloia

forming chambers (locules)
Valves Septa present
bilaterally YES
(internal
symmetrical projections from
Frustulia
Outer ends of raphe
the girdle YES usually in an
arrowhead shape.
Striae very fine
Raphe Diploneis
within a NO
NO thickened
band YES
Neidium
Ornamented
valve edges.
NO Central raphe YES
endings often Pinnularia
curve in opposite
directions
Striae very
thick (many YES
NO tiny puncta,
Areolae usually Stauroneis
not visible)
prominent in LM
A band of clear
silica across the
NO centre of the YES
valve Brachysira

Striae form long,

irregular lines on the
NO valve face YES
Sellaphora
Thickened
NO clear areas at
each pole
More biraphid
naviculoid
diatoms NO
Part F

YES Navicula
Biraphid diatoms
CONTINUED Striae very regular,
YES areolae often visible. Genus
In live material, a pair YES features
of lateral chloroplasts
Placoneis hard to see
in LM. ID
Raphes long, Valves often Choroplast an x- to species
usually almost relatively large shaped plate Striae fine, but usually will place
meeting at the (>30 mm) typical
NO YES in genus
visible, with wider
centre of the naviculoid shape spacing at the valve
Adlafia
valve NO centre. Raphe curves to
same side on valve face
NO YES
Kobayasiella
Valves very small,
narrow, striae barely YES
visible. Raphe Diadesmis
straight, outer ends
hooked on valve face Frustules often
form chains.
Rounded ends. YES
NO Short parallel Cavinula
striae
Valves often almost
round, radial striae,
NO outer raphe ends YES
curved in opposite Luticola
directions
Central area oblong,
NO one stigma (hole) to
one side, large areolae YES
Geissleria
SEM required to see
Prominent characteristic areolae in
areolae at some species
NO YES
outer ends Chamaepinnularia
Very small
forms with
NO prominent
striae
Many other small
naviculoid genera have
been described. Often SEM NO
is required to verify their
distinguishing features.