Colacium
Genus of algae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Colacium is a genus of algae belonging to the family Euglenaceae.[2] It has two phases: a motile phase and a sessile phase, where it is found attached to other freshwater organisms.[3]
| Colacium | |
|---|---|
| |
| Colacium vesiculosum, attached to a rotifer | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Discoba |
| Phylum: | Euglenozoa |
| Class: | Euglenida |
| Clade: | Euglenophyceae |
| Order: | Euglenales |
| Family: | Euglenaceae |
| Genus: | Colacium Ehrenberg, 1834 |
| Type species | |
| Colacium vesiculosum Ehrenberg[1] | |
The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution.[2]
Description
Colacium is a single-celled or colonial organisms. Cells are small, about 20–40 μm, and are similar to that of Euglena, and are metabolic with parietal, lobed chloroplasts each with a pyrenoid, and monomorphic, small paramylon grains. In its typical sessile phase, the cells are attached to a substrate via a mucilaginous stalk or short pillow. Cells divide to form colonies where the cells are attached by branched, dendroidal stalks.[4]
Cells of Colacium can grow a flagellum and become motile, escaping from the colony as a free-swimming cell.[4]
Species:[2]
- Colacium arbuscula Stein, 1878
- Colacium mucronatum Bourr. & Chadef.
- Colacium sideropus Skuja
- Colacium simplex Hub.-Pest.
- Colacium steinii Kent
- Colacium vesiculosum Ehrenberg, 1838