Article
Article
Volvocida
Article By:
Lackey, James B. Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Last reviewed:January 2021
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.736900
An order of the class Phytamastigophorea. The protozoa, also known as the Phytomonadida, are grass-green, but a few are colorless (Polytoma). Individual cells may be as small as 8 micrometers. They closely relate the flagellates to the algae. They have one flagellum (Pedimonas), two (Chlamydomonas), four (Carteria) (Fig. 1), or eight (Polyblepharides). Plural flagella are usually equal. The group is large and about one-fourth of the approximately 100 genera form palmelloid or dendroid colonies (Tetraspora, Chlorangium), with flagella only in reproductive cells. Cell walls are of cellulose and often they are thick. Chromatophores contain the same chlorophylls as higher plants. Pyrenoids have the usual form commonly found with starch as the reserve material. See also: Cilia and flagella
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