''Pleurococcus'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
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 and Charophyta/ Streptophyta. The land plants ...
in the family
Chaetophoraceae
Chaetophoraceae is a family (biology), family of green algae in the order Chaetophorales.
Members of the family are variously semi-terrestrial to aquatic in habitat, and consist of branched filaments in two parts, a prostrate system of filaments ...
that are spherical in shape with a thick cell wall to protect themselves against excessive water loss. They can be found alone or in bunches together forming a slimy layer and grow on moist, dark patches of trees, rocks and soil.
The name is derived from the Greek terms πλευρά (''pleurá'', "side" or "rib"), and κόκκος (''kókkos'', "seed" or "berry"). It is sometimes also called ''Protococcus''. Its taxonomic status needs reinvestigation, since the
type species
In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the spe ...
''Pleurococcus vulgaris'' is considered a synonym of ''
Desmococcus olivaceus
''Desmococcus'' is the scientific name of two genera of organisms and may refer to:
* ''Desmococcus'' (alga), a genus of algae in the family Prasiolaceae
* ''Desmococcus'' (insect), a genus of scale insects in the family Pityococcidae
{{Genu ...
''.
Species
The genus consists of the following species:
* ''
Pleurococcus angulosus''
* ''
Pleurococcus magnum''
* ''
Pleurococcus mucosus''
* ''
Pleurococcus rufescens''
* ''
Pleurococcus vulgaris''
References
External links
*
Chaetophorales genera
Chaetophoraceae
{{Chlorophyceae-stub