ATLAS OF CYANOBACTERIA

Genus	Species	Order	Family
Aphanothece	nidulans	Chroococcales	Aphanothecaceae
Aphanothece	saxicola	Chroococcales	Aphanothecaceae
Aphanothece	stagnina	Chroococcales	Aphanothecaceae
Gloeothece	fusco-lutea	Chroococcales	Aphanothecaceae
Gloeothece	rupestris	Chroococcales	Aphanothecaceae
Chroococcus	giganteus	Chroococcales	Chroococcaceae
Chroococcus	tenax	Chroococcales	Chroococcaceae
Chroococcus	turgidus	Chroococcales	Chroococcaceae
Gloeocapsa	atrata	Chroococcales	Chroococcaceae
Gloeocapsa	biformis	Chroococcales	Chroococcaceae
Gloeocapsa	kuetzingiana	Chroococcales	Chroococcaceae
Gloeocapsa	rupestris	Chroococcales	Chroococcaceae
Gloeocapsopsis	pleurocapsoides	Chroococcales	Chroococcaceae
Gomphosphaeria	aponina	Chroococcales	Gomphosphaeriaceae
Microcystis	viridis	Chroococcales	Microcystaceae
Godlewskia	polonicus	Chroococcales	Stichosiphonaceae
Stichosiphon	willei	Chroococcales	Stichosiphonaceae
Aphanizomenon	flos-aquae	Nostocales	Aphanozomenonaceae
Cylindrospermopsis	raciborskii	Nostocales	Aphanozomenonaceae
Dolichospermum	circinale	Nostocales	Aphanozomenonaceae
Dolichospermum	crassum	Nostocales	Aphanozomenonaceae
Dolichospermum	ellipsoides	Nostocales	Aphanozomenonaceae
Dolichospermum	flos-aquae	Nostocales	Aphanozomenonaceae
Dolichospermum	lemmermannii	Nostocales	Aphanozomenonaceae
Dolichospermum		Nostocales	Aphanozomenonaceae
Dolichospermum	planctonicum	Nostocales	Aphanozomenonaceae
Dolichospermum	spiroides	Nostocales	Aphanozomenonaceae
Nodularia		Nostocales	Aphanozomenonaceae
Raphidiopsis		Nostocales	Aphanozomenonaceae
Capsosira	brebissonii	Nostocales	Capsosiraceae
Gloeotrichia	echinulata	Nostocales	Gloeotrichiaceae
Gloeotrichia	natans	Nostocales	Gloeotrichiaceae
Gloeotrichia	pisum	Nostocales	Gloeotrichiaceae
Fischerella	muscicola	Nostocales	Hapalosiphonaceae
Hapalosiphon	hibernicus	Nostocales	Hapalosiphonaceae
Hapalosiphon	pumilus	Nostocales	Hapalosiphonaceae
Anabaena	cylindrica	Nostocales	Nostocaceae
Anabaena	echinospora	Nostocales	Nostocaceae
Anabaena	oscillarioides	Nostocales	Nostocaceae
Cylindrospermum	stagnale	Nostocales	Nostocaceae
Desmonostoc	muscorum	Nostocales	Nostocaceae
Nostoc	carneum	Nostocales	Nostocaceae
Nostoc	commune	Nostocales	Nostocaceae
Nostoc	kihlmanii	Nostocales	Nostocaceae
Nostoc	microscopicum	Nostocales	Nostocaceae
Nostoc	verrucosum	Nostocales	Nostocaceae
Trichormus	azollae	Nostocales	Nostocaceae
Calothrix	confervicola	Nostocales	Rivulariaceae
Calothrix	fusca	Nostocales	Rivulariaceae
Calothrix		Nostocales	Rivulariaceae
Calothrix	parietina	Nostocales	Rivulariaceae
Dichothrix	gypsophila	Nostocales	Rivulariaceae
Dichothrix	hosfordii	Nostocales	Rivulariaceae
Isactis	fluviatilis	Nostocales	Rivulariaceae
Michrochaete	tenera	Nostocales	Rivulariaceae
Rivularia	minutula	Nostocales	Rivulariaceae
Petalonema	alatum	Nostocales	Scytonemataceae
Petalonema	incrustans	Nostocales	Scytonemataceae
Scytonema	coactile	Nostocales	Scytonemataceae
Scytonema	crispum	Nostocales	Scytonemataceae
Scytonema	hofmannii	Nostocales	Scytonemataceae
Scytonema	javanicum	Nostocales	Scytonemataceae
Scytonema	mirabile	Nostocales	Scytonemataceae
Scytonema	myochrous	Nostocales	Scytonemataceae
Scytonema	ocellatum	Nostocales	Scytonemataceae
Scytonema	tolypothrichoides	Nostocales	Scytonemataceae
Scytonematopsis	crustacea	Nostocales	Scytonemataceae
Scytonematopsis	starmachii	Nostocales	Scytonemataceae
Stigonema	informe	Nostocales	Stigonemataceae
Stigonema	mamillosum	Nostocales	Stigonemataceae
Stigonema	minutum	Nostocales	Stigonemataceae
Stigonema	ocellatum	Nostocales	Stigonemataceae
Stigonema	turfaceum	Nostocales	Stigonemataceae
Coleodesmium	floccosum	Nostocales	Tolypothrichaceae
Coleodesmium	wrangelii	Nostocales	Tolypothrichaceae
Hassallia	byssoidea	Nostocales	Tolypothrichaceae
Rexia	erecta	Nostocales	Tolypothrichaceae
Tolypothrix	calcarata	Nostocales	Tolypothrichaceae
Tolypothrix	distorta	Nostocales	Tolypothrichaceae
Tolypothrix	lanata	Nostocales	Tolypothrichaceae
Borzia	trilocularis	Oscillatoriales	Borziaceae
Coleofasciculus	chthonoplastes	Oscillatoriales	Coleofasciculaceae
Geitlerinema	splendidum	Oscillatoriales	Coleofasciculaceae
Cyanothece	aeruginosa	Oscillatoriales	Cyanothecaceae
Homeothrix	juliana	Oscillatoriales	Homeotrichaceae
Phormidiochaete		Oscillatoriales	Homeotrichaceae
Arthrospira	jenneri	Oscillatoriales	Microcoleaceae
Microcoleus	autumnale	Oscillatoriales	Microcoleaceae
Microcoleus	hollerbachianum	Oscillatoriales	Microcoleaceae
Microcoleus	lacustris	Oscillatoriales	Microcoleaceae
Microcoleus	paludosus	Oscillatoriales	Microcoleaceae
Microcoleus	vaginatus	Oscillatoriales	Microcoleaceae
Microcoleus	vulgaris	Oscillatoriales	Microcoleaceae
Planktothrix	agardhii	Oscillatoriales	Microcoleaceae
Pseudophormidium	hollerbachianum	Oscillatoriales	Microcoleaceae
Symploca	muscorum	Oscillatoriales	Microcoleaceae
Symplocastrum	muelleri	Oscillatoriales	Microcoleaceae
Blenothrix		Oscillatoriales	Oscillatoriaceae
Limnoraphis	birgei	Oscillatoriales	Oscillatoriaceae
Lyngbya	aestuarii	Oscillatoriales	Oscillatoriaceae
Lyngbya		Oscillatoriales	Oscillatoriaceae
Oscillatoria	articulata	Oscillatoriales	Oscillatoriaceae
Oscillatoria	curviceps	Oscillatoriales	Oscillatoriaceae
Oscillatoria	limosa	Oscillatoriales	Oscillatoriaceae
Oscillatoria	princeps	Oscillatoriales	Oscillatoriaceae
Oscillatoria	tenuis	Oscillatoriales	Oscillatoriaceae
Phormidium	irriguum	Oscillatoriales	Oscillatoriaceae
Phormidium		Oscillatoriales	Oscillatoriaceae
Phormidium	retzii	Oscillatoriales	Oscillatoriaceae
Phormidium	subuliforme	Oscillatoriales	Oscillatoriaceae
Phormidium	uncinatum	Oscillatoriales	Oscillatoriaceae
Plectonema	wollei	Oscillatoriales	Oscillatoriaceae
Cyanocystis	hemisphaerica	Pleurocapsales	Dermocarpellaceae
Cyanocystis	violacea	Pleurocapsales	Dermocarpellaceae
Pleurocapsa	fulignosa	Pleurocapsales	Hyellaceae
Pleurocapsa		Pleurocapsales	Hyellaceae
Spirulina	major	Spirulinales	Spirulinaceae
Heteroleibleinia	infixa	Synechococcales	Heteroleibleiniaceae
Leptolyngbya	foveolarum	Synechococcales	Leptolyngbyaceae
Trichocoleus	acutissimus	Synechococcales	Leptolyngbyaceae
Chamaesiphon	confervicolus	Synechococcales	Chamaesiphonaceae
Chamaesiphon	incrustans	Synechococcales	Chamaesiphonaceae
Cyanophanon	minus	Synechococcales	Chamaesiphonaceae
Cyanophanon	mirabile	Synechococcales	Chamaesiphonaceae
Cyanophanon		Synechococcales	Chamaesiphonaceae
Geitleribactron	periphyticum	Synechococcales	Chamaesiphonaceae
Coelomoron		Synechococcales	Coelosphaeriaceae
Snowella	litoralis	Synechococcales	Coelosphaeriaceae
Woronichinia	naegeliana	Synechococcales	Coelosphaeriaceae
Eucapsis	minor	Synechococcales	Merismopediaceae
Merismopedia	elegans	Synechococcales	Merismopediaceae
Merismopedia	glauca	Synechococcales	Merismopediaceae
Pannus	planus	Synechococcales	Merismopediaceae
Limnothrix	redekei	Synechococcales	Pseudanabaenaceae
Pseudanabaena	arcuata	Synechococcales	Pseudanabaenaceae
Pseudanabaena	catenata	Synechococcales	Pseudanabaenaceae
Pseudanabaena	mucicola	Synechococcales	Pseudanabaenaceae
Pseudanabaena		Synechococcales	Pseudanabaenaceae
Dasygloea	lamyi	Synechococcales	Schizotrichaceae
Cyanodictyon		Synechococcales	Synechococcaceae
Rhabdoderma	lineare	Synechococcales	Synechococcaceae
Rhabdogloea	linearis	Synechococcales	Synechococcaceae

Using high quality PHOTOGRAPHS of BLUE-GREEN ALGAE, this atlas of CYANOBACTERIA endeavors to illustrate the diversity of CYANOBACTERIA (BLUE-GREEN ALGAE) in New England.

The ILLUSTRATIONS include IMAGES of HAB (harmful algal blooms) such as APHANIZOMENON, MICROCYSTIS, PLANKTOTHRIX, WORONICHINIA, GLOEOTRICHIA, DOLICHOSPERMUM, MERISMOPEDIA, ANABAENA, ARTHROSPIRA, SPIRULINA, and other plankton in our waters. There are also PHOTOS of commonly encountered CHROOCOCCUS, GLOEOCAPSA, MICROCOLEUS, NOSTOC, OSCILLATORIA, PHORMIDIUM, SCYTONEMA, STIGONEMA, TOLYPOTHRIX which may aid in the identification of these organisms.

Another purpose of this searchable collection of cyanobacteria is to illustrate some of the complexities in IDENTIFYING these enigmatic organisms. The IMAGES show the blue-green algae in their “normal” textbook forms but also in their aberrations and how they routinely morph into other “species” when the conditions of their environment are less than ideal.

Boring But Important

Cyanobacterial taxonomy is notoriously complex...and imprecise. Ideally we would like a simple and clear dichotomous key that would consistently and reliably lead us to a consistent conclusion. Unfortunately, the paucity of distinctive phenotypic characters in even these most complex of bacteria renders that ideal impossible.

This is not the place to discuss the complexities of cyanobacterial genetics and speciation, however I will admit to the tyro cyano taxonomists of the world that even professionals have trouble with the overlapping of species descriptions in the few keys available. Furthermore, all the foundational keys and descriptions are European in orientation and the general consensus is that only 10%-15% of cyanobacterial species may be cosmopolitan. With that in mind I have generally only included genera and species which have enough distinctive characteristics as to be confidently named.

I tend to bypass many of the unicellular forms and the Leptolyngbyas etc. as being too difficult to be confident of my determinations. Generally I include several photos for each organism to show what you will see through your scope. I try to illustrate the important diacritical features but balance this with just trying to illustrate the true beauty of the blue-greens.

Remember! You cannot identify a cyanobacterium via a photograph! All names have been thoroughly researched in numerous texts and journals and I believe them to be correct—phenotypically and ecologically, if not genetically. If you do spot a mistake, have comments or suggestions, or have an interesting little blue-green you’d like to put a name to, kindly contact me. I WILL respond.

Finally, this atlas is an ongoing project and will grow and change over time. So tune in again. Thank you.

Primary Sources

Geitler, L. (1932). Cyanophyceae. Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft m.b.H. Leipzig.

Komarek, J. and K. Anagnostidis (2008 unaltered reprint of 1998 text). Cyanoprokaryota 1. Chroococcales. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag. Heidelberg.

Komarek, J. and K. Anagnostidis (2008 unaltered reprint of 2005 text). Cyanoprokaryota 2. Oscillatoriales. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag. Heidelberg.

Komarek, J. (2013). Cyanoprokaryota 3. Heterocystous Genera. Springer Spektrum. Heidelberg.

Komarek, J. (2014). Taxonomic classification of cyanoprokaryotes 2014 using a polyphasic approach. Preslia 86: 295-335.

And a couple of good species articles, conveniently in the same journal.

Castenholz and Norris (2005). Revisionary concepts in the Cyanobacteria and their applications. Algological Studies 117: 53-69.

Johansen, J. R. & D. A. Casamatta, (2005). Recognizing cyanobacterial diversity through adoption of a new species paradigm. Algological Studies 117: 71–93.

Please send an email to:

All photos are taken from freshly collected, live specimens by Gerald Oemig (except where captioned).

I would like to thank Dr. Robin Matthews, Professor Emeritus of the Huxley College of the Environment at Western Washington University, Mr. Michael Kausch of Fordham University, and Norm Trigoboff of Ithaca NY for their help and photographic contributions to this edition of the Atlas. THANK YOU!

Images are made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike (CC BY-SA) Users are allowed to copy, transmit, reuse, and/or adapt content, as long as attribution regarding the source of the content is made. If the content is altered, transformed, or enhanced, it may be re-distributed only under the same or similar license by which it was acquired.

I have ordered the species included according to: Komarek, J. (2014). Taxonomic classification of cyanoprokaryotes (cyanobacterial genera) 2014, using a polyphasic approach. Preslia 86: 295-335.

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Chroococcales---Aphanothecaceae

Aphanothece stagnina A. Braun 1863 (Anacystis rupestris Drouet et Daily 1942)

Aphanothece nidulans Richter 1884

Aphanothece saxicola Nägeli 1884

Gloeothece fusco-lutea Nägeli 1849

Gloeothece rupestris Bornet 1880

Chroococcales---Chroococcaceae

Chroococcus turgidus Nägeli1849

Chroococcus giganteus W. West 1892

Chroococcus tenax (Kirchner) Hieronymus 1892

Gloeocapsa atrata Kützing 1845

Gloeocapsa rupestris Kützing 1845

Gloeocapsa biformis Ercegović 1925

Gloeocapsa kuetzingiana Nägeli 1849

Gloeocapsopsis pleurocapsoides Komárek et Anagnostidis 1986

Chroococcales-Gomphosphaeriaceae

Gomphosphaeria aponina Kützing 1836

Chroococcales---Stichosiphonaceae

Stichosiphon willei Komárek et Anagnostidis 1995

Godlewskia (was Chamaesiphon) polonicus Hansgirg 1893 

Chroococcales---Microcystaceae

Microcystis viridis Lemmermann 1903

Synechococcales-Synechococcaceae 

Rhabdoderma lineare Schmidle et Lauterborn 1900

Rhabdogloea linearis Komárek 1983

Cyanodictyon sp. Pascher 1914

Synechococcales-Chamaesiphonaceae

Chamaesiphon confervicolus A. Braun 1865

Chamaesiphon incrustans Grunow 1865

Cyanophanon sp.  Geitler 1956

Cyanophanon minus Geitler 1966

Cyanophanon mirabile Geitler 1955

Geitleribactron periphyticum Komárek 1975

Synechococcales---Coleosphaeriaceae

Coelomoron Buell 1938

Snowella litoralis Komárek et Hindak 1988

Woronichinia naegeliana Elenkin 1933

Synechococcales---Merismopediaceae

Merismopedia glauca Kützing 1845

Merismopedia elegans A. Braun 1849

Merismopedia with Eucapsis

Eucapsis minor Elenkin 1933

Panus planus Hindak 1993

Synechococcales---Leptolyngbyaceae

Leptolyngbya cf foveolarum Anagnostidis et Komárek 1988

Trichocoleus (was Microcoleus) acutissimus Anagnostidis 2001

Synechococcales---Heteroleibleiniaceae

Hereroleibleinia cf infixa Anagnostidis et Komárek 1988

Synechococcales---Pseudanabaenaceae

Pseudanabaena sp.  Lauterborn 1915

Pseudanabaena arcuata Anagnostidis et Komárek 1988

Pseudanabaena catenata Lauterborn 1915

Pseudanabaena mucicola Schwabe 1964

Limnothrix redekei Meffert 1988

Synechococcales---Schizotrichaceae

Dasygloea lamyi Senna et Komárek 1998

Spirulinales-Spirulinaceae

Spirulina major Gomont 1892

Pleurocapsales---Dermocarpellaceae

Cyanocystis cf violacea Anagnostidis et Komárek 1986

Cyanocystis cf hemisphaerica Kaas 1985

Pleurocapsales---Hyellaceae

Pleurocapsa sp. Thuret 1885

Pleurocapsa fuliginosa Hauck 1885

Oscillatoriales---Oscillatoriaceae

Oscillatoria princeps Gomont 1892

Oscillatoria limosa Gomont 1892

Oscillatoria curviceps Gomont 1892

Oscillatoria articulata Gardner 1927

Oscillatoria cf tenuis Gomont 1892

Limnoraphis (was Lyngbya) birgei Komárek et.al 2013

Lyngbya sp.  Gomont 1892

Lyngbya aestuarii Gomont 1892

Plectonema wollei Gomont 1892

Blenothrix sp. Anagnostidis et Komárek 1988

Phormidium sp.  Gomont 1892

Phormidium uncinatum Gomont 1892

Phormidium subuliforme Anagnostidis et Komárek 1988

Phormidium irriguum Anagnostidis et Komárek 1988

Phormidium retzii Gomont 1892

Oscillatoriales- Borziaceae

Borzia trilocularis Gomont 1892

Oscillatoriales-Cyanothecaceae

Cyanothece aeruginosa Komárek 1976

Oscillatoriales---Microcoleaceae

Planktothrix agardhii Anagnostidis et Komárek 1988

Arthrospira  jenneri Gomont 1892

Microcoleus (was Phormidium)  autumnale Strunecky et.al. 2013

Microcoleus (was Phormidium) cf vulgaris Strunecky et.al. 2013

Microcoleus lacustris Gomont 1892

Microcoleus paludosus Gomont 1892

Microcoleus vaginatus Gomont 1892

Symplocastrum (was Schizothrix) muelleri Anagnostidis 2001

Symploca muscorum Gomont 1892

Pseudophormidium (was Plectonema) hollerbachianum Anagnostidis 2001

Oscillatoriales---Coleofasciculaceae

Coleofasciculus (was Microcoleus) chthonoplastes M. Siegesmund et.al. 2008

Geitlerinema splendidum Anagnostidis 1989

Oscillatoriales---Homeotrichaceae

Homeothrix juliana Kirchner 1898

Phormidiochaete sp. Komárek in Anagnostidis 2001

Nostocales---Tolypothrichaceae 

Hassallia byssoidea Bornet et Flahault 1888

Tolypothrix distorta Bornet et Flahault 1887

Tolypothrix lanata Bornet et Flahault 1887

Tolypothrix calcarata Schmidle 1899

Coleodesmium (was Desmonema) wrangelii Geitler 1942

Coleodesmium (was Desmonema) floccosum Geitler 1942

Rexia erecta Casamatta, Gomez et Johansen 2006

Nostocales---Scytonemataceae

Scytonema coactile Bornet et Flahault 1887

Scytonema crispum Bornet 1889

Scytonema mirabile Bornet 1889

Scytonema myochrous Bornet et Flahault 1886

Scytonema ocellatum Bornet et Flahault 1887

Scytonema hofmannii Bornet et Flahault 1887

Scytonema javanicum Bornet et Flahault 1887

Scytonema tolypothrichoides Kützing 1849

Petalonema alatum Kirchner 1898

Petalonema incrustans Komárek 2012

Scytonematopsis crustacea Kováĉik et Komárek 1988

Scytonematopsis starmachii Kováĉik et Komárek 1988 

Nostocales---Rivulariaceae

Calothrix sp.  Bornet et Flahault 1886

Calothrix fusca Bornet et Flahault 1886

Calothrix parietina Bornet et Flahault 1886

Calothrix confervicola Bornet et Flahault 1886

Isactis  cf   fluviatilis Wolle 1887

Dichothrix gypsophila Bornet et Flahault 1886

Dichothrix hosfordii Bornet 1896

Rivularia minutula Bornet et Flauhault 1886

Michrochaete tenera Bornet et Flahault 1887

Nostocales---Gloeotrichiaceae

Gloeotrichia natans Bornet et Flahault 1886

Gloeotrichia pisum Bornet et Flahault 1886

Gloeotrichia echinulata Richter 1894

Nostocales---Hapalosiphonaceae

Hapalosiphon pumilus  Bornet et Flahault 1887

Hapalosiphon hibernicus W. et G.S. West 1896

Fischerella muscicola Gomont 1895

Nostocales---Capsosiraceae

Capsosira brebissonii Bornet et Flahault 1886

Nostocales---Stigonemataceae

Stigonema informe Bornet et Flahault 1886

Stigonema turfaceum Bornet et Flahault 1886

Stigonema ocellatum Bornet et Flahault 1886

Stigonema minutum Bornet et Flahault 1886

Stigonema mamillosum Bornet et Flahault 1886

Nostocales---Aphanozomenonaceae

Aphanizomenon flos-aquae Bornet et Flahault 1888

Raphidiopsis sp.  Fritsch et Rich 1929

Dolichospermum (was Anabaena) Wacklin et. al. 2009

Dolichospermum (was Anabaena) circinale Wacklin et.al. 2009

Dolichospermum (was Anabaena) crassum Wacklin et.al. 2009

Dolichospermum (was Anabaena) ellipsoides Wacklin et.al. 2009

Dolichospermum  (was Anabaena) flos-aquae Wacklin et.al. 2009

Dolichospermum (was Anabaena) lemmermannii Wacklin et.al. 2009

Dolichospermum (was Anabaena) planctonicum Wacklin et.al. 2009

Dolichospermum (was Anabaena) spiroides Wacklin et.al. 2009

Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii Seenayya et Subba Raju 1972

Nodularia sp.  Bornet et Flahault 1888  UTEX culture

Nostocales---Nostocaceae

Desmonostoc (was Nostoc) muscorum Hrouzek et Ventura 2013

Nostoc carneum Bornet et Flahault 1888

Nostoc commune Bornet et Flahault 1888

Nostoc microscopicum Bornet et Flahault 1888

Nostoc verrucosum Bornet et Flahault 1888

Nostoc kihlmanii Lemmermann 1900

Anabaena cylindrica Lemmermann 1896

Anabaena echinospora Skuja 1926

Anabaena oscillarioides Bornet et Flahault 1888

Trichormus azollae Komárek et Anagnostidis 1989

Cylindrospermum stagnale Bornet et Flahault 1888