Chroococcus Nägeli, 1849

Holotype species: Chroococcus rufescens (Kützing) Nägeli

Original publication and holotype designation: Nägeli, C. (1849). Gattungen einzelliger Algen, physiologisch und systematisch bearbeitet. Neue Denkschriften der Allg. Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für die Gesammten Naturwissenschaften 10(7): i-viii, 1-139, pls I-VIII.

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Description: Unicellular - colonial; colonies usually microscopic, only few-celled, more or less spherical, rarely many-celled, forming macroscopic, gelatinous mats; colonial slime fine, diffluent, homogeneous and colorless or lamellated, limited and (rarely) colored; around gathered cells special own envelopes, usually copying the shape of cells, homogeneous or lamellated (up to rich lamellated) [subg. Chroococcus], or the old envelopes diffluent and the cells remain distant from one another [subg. Limnococcus]. Cells rarely spherical (young reproduction cells), usually hemispherical to irregular (often in a form of a sector of a sphere), with homogeneous or granular content, sometimes with several prominent granules visible in light microscope, pale or bright blue-green, yellowish, pinkish or violet, rarely with aerotopes (in some planktonic species); sometimes (particularly in species with larger cells) with visible chromatoplasm (thylakoids are concentrated on the periphery of cells). Division of cells in three directions perpendicular each to another in first successive generations, later more or less irregular (in other directions); daughter cells grow more or less original size before the next division, but not always into the original shape. daughter cells form their own gelatinous envelopes. Multiplications by the dissociation of colonies, sometimes up to solitary cells. Widely distributed in freshwater, less in saline localities, mainly in metaphyton of varied bodies of water, also in aerophytic, thermal and soil biotopes; a group of species lives in plankton of reservoirs (few species facultatively with aerotopes). Many species were incorrectly identified and misinterpreted repeatedly. The ecology is important for the correct determination.

Information contributed by: J. Komárek. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2023-03-03 by M.D. Guiry.

Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Strunecký, O., Ivanova, A.P. & Mares, J. (2022 '2023'). An updated classification of cyanobacterial orders and families based on phylogenomic and polyphasic analysis (Review). Journal of Phycology 59(1): 12-51.

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Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in CD format. These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above. The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.

Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.

Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=43062

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 03 March 2023. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 29 March 2024

 
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