Taxonomic Group: | Cyanobacteria |
Trophic Status: | Autotrophic |
Size Range: | N/A |
Key Characteristics: | Chains usually 3-10 cells only, with terminal cone- or triangular-shaped heterocytes; if akinetes are present, they are almost always adjacent to the heterocytes; if akinetes are observed in the middle of a chain, it is most likely Raphidiopsis curvata (see below); if terminal heterocytes are missing, it is extremely difficult to distinguish from Raphidiopsis curvata |
Confused With: | Raphidiopsis curvata, which also has chains of 3-10 cells, but only have vegetative cells and akinetes (always present in the middle of the chain, never on the end) and no heterocytes; we might also be accidentally including Cylindrospermum species, which also have terminal heterocytes, but that are more rounded |
Toxin: | Anatoxins, cylindrospermopsin, saxitoxins |
Display2018-01-05T09:42:10+00:00