Chlainomonas H.R.Christen, 1959

Holotype species: Chlainomonas ovalis H.R.Christen

Original publication and holotype designation: Christen, H.R. (1959). Flagellaten aus dem Schützenweiher bei Veltheim. Mitteilungen der naturwissenschaftlichen gesellschaft in Winterthur 29: 167-189.

Description: Unicellular thalli ovate with a weakly acuminate apex. Four isokont flagella inserted at the apex. Protoplast, which may be a deeply pigmented red, is separated from the cell wall by a distinct hyaline layer. The cell wall forms an elaborate, net-like covering in C. kolii. Chloroplast is normally cup-shaped. No cytoplasmic strands have been observed. Pyrenoids absent (or obscured by dense cytoplasm). Two apical contractile vacuoles normally present. Papillum absent. Stigma present (very prominent in C. ovalis) or absent depending on the species. Asexual reproduction by zoosporogenesis normally resulting in four motile daughter cells. Aplanospores and Akinetes have been reported. No sexual stages have been observed in this genus. Unicellular thalli ovate with a weakly acuminate apex. Four isokont flagella inserted at the apex. Protoplast, which may be a deeply pigmented red, is separated from the cell wall by a distinct hyaline layer. The cell wall forms an elaborate, net-like covering in C. kolii. Chloroplast is normally cup-shaped. No cytoplasmic strands have been observed. Pyrenoids absent (or obscured by dense cytoplasm). Two apical contractile vacuoles normally present. Papillum absent. Stigma present (very prominent in C. ovalis) or absent depending on the species. Asexual reproduction by zoosporogenesis normally resulting in four motile daughter cells. Aplanospores and Akinetes have been reported. No sexual stages have been observed in this genus.

Information contributed by: M. Buchheim. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2012-06-29 by Michael Guiry.

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

Comments: Ettl regards Chlainomonas as a quadriflagellate analog to Vitreochlamys (= Sphaerellopsis sensu Ettl). Chlainomonas is frequently collected as a "snow alga" and has been found in Switzerland, Canada, and the mountains of the Pacific northwest of the United States. No ultrastructural, biochemical, or molecular data are available for this genus

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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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=45030

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
Michael Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 29 June 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 23 April 2024