Domain Eukaryota Class Chlorophyceae Phylum Chlorophyta Order Chlamydomonadales | Kingdom Viridiplantae Family Goniaceae Rank Genus | |
Similar Chlamydomonadales, Yamagishiella, Platydorina, Pleodorina, Volvocaceae | ||
In taxonomy, Astrephomene is a genus of green algae, specifically of the Goniaceae. The genus was first described in 1937 by Pocock and named by Pockock in 1953 (Stein 1958).
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Description
Astrephomene gubernaculifera is a colonial, flagellated volvocine green algae. It consists of 16, 32, 64 or 128 cells, 2 to 7 of which are small and oriented such that their flagella form a rudder (Stein 1958). Each cell is surrounded by a gelatinous matrix and contains an eyespot, two flagella and 1-3 contractile vacuoles at the anterior end.
Astrephomene gubernaculifera can reproduce sexually or asexually. During asexual reproduction, the anterior end of all cells of the daughter colony is outside after the first nuclear and cytoplasmic division; this type of asexual reproduction is unique among the colonial volvocine green algae (Pocock 1953). Astrephomene gubernaculifera has two mating types that reproduce to form zygotes.
Habitats
Astrephomene gubernaculifera is often found in organically rich temporary pools, often in pasture ponds. It typically persists for 1–3 weeks after ponds are formed in beginning of the wet season (Pocock 1953).
It has been collected from South Africa, Australia and the United States (Pocock 1953).