Stephanosphaera
| Stephanosphaera | |
|---|---|
| File:Stephanosphaera pluvialis retouched.png | |
| Stephanosphaera pluvialis | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Chlorophyceae |
| Order: | Chlamydomonadales |
| Family: | Haematococcaceae |
| Genus: | Stephanosphaera Cohn |
| Species: | S. pluvialis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Stephanosphaera pluvialis Cohn
| |
Stephanosphaera is a genus of green algae in the family Haematococcaceae, containing the single species Stephanosphaera pluvialis.[1] It forms colonies of flagellated cells. Although it was once placed in the family Volvocaceae,[2] it is not closely related to them; its sister is the unicellular genus Balticola.[3] The name comes from the Greek roots stephanos, meaning "crown", and sphaira, meaning "ball".[4]
Description
[edit | edit source]Stephanosphaera pluvialis forms colonies of four or eight cells, arranged in a ring and surrounded by a spherical matrix. Each cell is elongated, irregularly shaped with several protrusions that join the cells together. Cells contain several contractile vacuoles, a rounded stigma, and a single large parietal chloroplast with usually two pyrenoids. Cells have two flagella of equal length.[3][5]
Reproduction
[edit | edit source]Stephanosphaera pluvialis reproduces both asexually and sexually. Asexual reproduction occurs by autocolony formation: a cell divides until it becomes like a miniature version of the existing colony, and the new colony is released from the cell.[3] Sexual reproduction is done with gametes, which are isogamous.[3]
Distribution
[edit | edit source]Stephanosphaera pluvialis is found in freshwater habitats. It tends to occur in rainwater puddles on non-basic rocks, more rarely in lakes.[6] It is rare.[1]
References
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