Rivularia and Oscillatoria are both types of blue-green algae, however, they belong to different types of family.
Rivularia is a genus of bacteria that belongs to the family Rivulariaceae. They usually grow on rocks, damp soil, submerged stones and damp stone which are close to the riverside. It possesses a heteropolar cyanobacterial filament which has heterocytes at its bases. The reproduction takes place by the formation of hormongones and they are also found in colonies. The filament in Rivularia is radiating.
Oscillatoria is a genus of filamentous blue-green algae that occurs single or tangled like a mat. It belongs to the family Oscillatoriaceae. The reproduction of Oscillatoria takes place through vegetative methods. Oscillatoria occurs in the freshwater, marine environment, planktons, and benthos. In Oscillatoria, the filaments are oscillating.