portrait

Description:

Portrait of Vitreochlamys fluviatilis, formerly Sphaerellopsis fluviatilis. The genus name, Sphaerellopsis (Korchikoff, 1925) was preoccupied by an Ascomycete fungus. This fungus Sphaerellopsis filum (Cooke, 1883) is a hyperparasite of another fungus, willow rust (Melampsora). Batko renamed this volvocid flagellate genus Vitreochlamys. This genus is similar to Chlamydomonas (some consider it synonymous) but differs from it by having a protoplast and surrounding gelatinous sheath that are fusiform. There are two equal length flagella. The nucleus is central. There is a large cup-shaped chloroplast and a posterior pyrenoid. Two anterior contractile vacuoles are located near the flagellar bases. There is a small anterior stigma. From a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. Oblique illumination.