Characiella
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Characiella | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Characiella rukwae | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Clade: | Viridiplantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Chlorophyceae |
| Order: | Sphaeropleales |
| Family: | Characiaceae |
| Genus: | Characiella Schmidle |
| Species: | C. rukwae |
| Binomial name | |
| Characiella rukwae Schmidle, 1902[1] | |
Characiella is a genus of green algae in the family Characiaceae, containing the single species Characiella rukwae.[1]
Characiella rukwae consists of colonies of cells embedded in a gelatinous matrix. Cells are ovoid in shape, with one nucleus at the base of the cell. There is one central, stellate chloroplast with a pyrenoid at the center.[1] The mode of reproduction is unknown,[1] although it is suspected to form zoospores with two flagella.[2]
Characiella rukwae has been recorded once from the plankton of Lake Rukwa in what is now Tanzania.[3] The genus is thus poorly known and requires modern reinvestigation.[1]
