Nephrocytium

Nephrocytium
Nephrocytium agardhianum
Scientific classification
Clade:	Viridiplantae
Division:	Chlorophyta
Class:	Chlorophyceae
Order:	Sphaeropleales
Family:	Nephrocytiaceae T.S.Garcia, Bagatini & Štenclová
Genus:	Nephrocytium Nägeli, 1849
Type species
Nephrocytium agardhianum Nägeli, 1849
Species
Nephrocytium agardhianum Nephrocytium limneticum Nephrocytium lunaris Nephrocytium lunatum

Nephrocytium is a genus of green algae in the class Chlorophyceae. Formerly placed in the family Oocystaceae, it is currently placed in its own family, Nephrocytiaceae.[1]

Description

Nephrocytium consists of colonies of 4, 8, or 16 asymmetrical cells surrounded by a spherical to ovoid layer of mucilage, which is formed when the mother cell wall expands and gelatinizes. Individual cells are kidney-shaped to ovoid, containing one chloroplast lining the inside of the cell membrane, each with one pyrenoid.[2]

Reproduction occurs asexually. It exclusively forms autospores, and does not appear to have a flagellated stage in its life cycle.[1]

Identification

Similar genera include Nephrochlamys and Juranyiella; Nephrochlamys differs in having cells that lack pyrenoids, while Juranyiella has granules dotted on the cell wall surface.[3]

Species are distinguished mainly by the shape of the cells (particularly at their apices), cell sizes, and length-to-width ratios. However, cells enlarge during their life cycle, which must be taken into account while identifying Nephrocytium species.[1]

References

1. Silva, Thaís Garcia; Štenclová, Lenka; Archanjo, Naiara Carolina Pereira; Bagatini, Inessa Lacativa (2021). "Revised phylogenetic position of Nephrocytium Nägeli (Sphaeropleales, Chlorophyceae), with the description of Nephrocytiaceae fam. nov. and Nephrocytium vieirae sp. nov". Taxon. 70 (5): 917–930. doi:10.1002/tax.12560. S2CID 239685638.
2. Shubert, Elliot; Gärtner, Georg (2014). "Chapter 7. Nonmotile Coccoid and Colonial Green Algae". In Wehr, John D.; Sheath, Robert G.; Kociolek, J. Patrick (eds.). Freshwater Algae of North America: Ecology and Classification (2 ed.). Elsevier Inc. ISBN 978-0-12-385876-4.
3. G. Dillard (17 Aug 2004). "Nephrocytium Genus detail". AlgaeBase. Retrieved 2007-09-19.