Chlorococcaceae is a

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

green algae The green algae (: green alga) are a group of chlorophyll-containing autotrophic eukaryotes consisting of the phylum Prasinodermophyta and its unnamed sister group that contains the Chlorophyta and Charophyta/ Streptophyta. The land plants ...

, in the order

Chlamydomonadales Chlamydomonadales, also known as Volvocales, are an order of flagellated or pseudociliated green algae, specifically of the Chlorophyceae.See the NCBIbr>webpage on Chlamydomonadales Data extracted from the Chlamydomonadales can form planar o ...

. They are mostly soil-dwelling algae. Many members of this group produce

lipid Lipids are a broad group of organic compounds which include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E and K), monoglycerides, diglycerides, phospholipids, and others. The functions of lipids include storing ...

s and secondary

carotenoid Carotenoids () are yellow, orange, and red organic pigments that are produced by plants and algae, as well as several bacteria, archaea, and fungi. Carotenoids give the characteristic color to pumpkins, carrots, parsnips, corn, tomatoes, cana ...

s. The Chlorococcaceae consists mostly of coccoid (single, nonmotile) cells with one parietal or central chloroplast and one or multiple nuclei. The chloroplast contains a single pyrenoid surrounded by a starch envelope. The cell envelope may thicken with age and develop into a mucilaginous stalk in some species. Reproduction consists of

zoospore A zoospore is a motile asexual spore that uses a flagellum for locomotion in aqueous or moist environments. Also called a swarm spore, these spores are created by some protists, bacteria, and fungi to propagate themselves. Certain zoospores are ...

s with a cell wall; after they stop swimming, the zoospores retain their shape. The family Chlorococcaceae is currently under

taxonomic revision In biology, taxonomy () is the scientific study of naming, defining ( circumscribing) and classifying groups of biological organisms based on shared characteristics. Organisms are grouped into taxa (singular: taxon), and these groups are given ...

. As currently circumscribed, the type genus ''

Chlorococcum ''Chlorococcum'' is a genus of green algae, in the family Chlorococcaceae. The alga may be useful in the flocculation of lipids from wastewater. It can be found in fresh water, but is more commonly found in soil or subaerial habitats (such as gro ...

'' is

polyphyletic A polyphyletic group is an assemblage that includes organisms with mixed evolutionary origin but does not include their most recent common ancestor. The term is often applied to groups that share similar features known as Homoplasy, homoplasies ...

. The type species, ''

Chlorococcum infusionum ''Chlorococcum'' is a genus of green algae, in the family Chlorococcaceae. The alga may be useful in the flocculation of lipids from wastewater. It can be found in fresh water, but is more commonly found in soil or subaerial habitats (such as gro ...

'', is a member of the clade ''Moewusinia''.

List of genera

* ''

Apodochloris ''Apodochloris'' is a genus of green algae in the family Chlorococcaceae Chlorococcaceae is a family of green algae, in the order Chlamydomonadales. They are mostly soil-dwelling algae. Many members of this group produce lipids and secondary c ...

'' * '' Athroocystis'' * '' Axilococcus'' * '' Borodinellopsis'' * ''

'' * ''

Chlorohippotes ''Chlorohippotes'' is a genus of green algae, in the family Chlorococcaceae. It contains a single species, ''Chlorohippotes tenax''. ''Chlorohippotes tenax'' is an obligate epiphyte on multicellular volvocalean algae, particularly ''Volvox'' and ...

'' * ''

Closteridium ''Closteridium'' is a genus of green algae in the family Chlorococcaceae Chlorococcaceae is a family of green algae, in the order Chlamydomonadales. They are mostly soil-dwelling algae. Many members of this group produce lipids and secondary c ...

'' * '' Cystococcus'' * ''

Cystomonas ''Cystomonas'' is a genus of green algae in the family Chlorococcaceae Chlorococcaceae is a family of green algae, in the order Chlamydomonadales. They are mostly soil-dwelling algae. Many members of this group produce lipids and secondary car ...

'' * ''

Emergococcus ''Emergococcus'' is a genus of green algae, in the family Chlorococcaceae. It contains a single species, ''Emergococcus lucens''. It is neustonic in fresh water Fresh water or freshwater is any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water con ...

'' * ''

Emergosphaera ''Emergosphaera'' is a genus of green algae, in the family Chlorococcaceae. It contains a single species, ''Emergosphaera superficialis'', recorded only once from Kursk, Russia. The vegetative cells of ''Emergosphaera'' are neustonic in freshwater ...

'' * '' Eubrownia'' * ''

Fasciculochloris ''Fasciculochloris'' is a genus of green algae in the family Chlorococcaceae. Development and Division Young vegetative cells begin oblong and oval shaped, but eventually become rounded and spherical after aging. Cell division has a chance of re ...

'' * ''

Ferricystis ''Ferricystis'' is a genus of green algae The green algae (: green alga) are a group of chlorophyll-containing autotrophic eukaryotes consisting of the phylum Prasinodermophyta and its unnamed sister group that contains the Chlorophyta an ...

'' * '' Kentrosphaeropsis'' * '' Lautosphaeria'' * '' Nautococcus'' * '' Neglectellopsis'' * ''

Neospongiococcum ''Neospongiococcum'' is a genus of green algae in the family Chlorococcaceae. References External links AlgaTerra databaseIndex Nominum Genericorum
Chlorococcaceae Chlorococcaceae genera {{Chlorophyceae-stub ...

'' * '' Octogoniella'' * '' Phaseolaria'' * '' Pseudodictyococcus'' * '' Pseudoplanophila'' * '' Pseudospongiococcum'' * '' Pseudotrochiscia'' * '' Radiosphaera'' * '' Skujaster'' * '' Spongiochloris'' * '' Spongiococcum'' * †'' Syndesmorion'' * '' Tetracystis'' * '' Torgia'' * '' Ulotrichella'' * '' Valeriella'' * '' Valkanoviella''

References

External links

Chlorophyceae families {{Chlorophyceae-stub