Valonia ventricosa
Large, unicellular species of algae
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Key Takeaways
- Valonia ventricosa , also known as bubble algae , sea grape , or sailor's eyeballs , is a species of algae within the phylum Chlorophyta found in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world's oceans.
- Characteristics Valonia ventricosa has a coenocytic structure with multiple nuclei and chloroplasts.
- The entire cell contains several cytoplasmic domains, with each domain having a nucleus and a few chloroplasts.
- The peripheral cytoplasm (whose membrane is overlaid by the cell wall) is only about 40 nm thick.
- Environment They appear in tidal zones of tropical and subtropical areas, like the Caribbean, north through Florida, south to Brazil, and in the Indo-Pacific.
Valonia ventricosa, also known as bubble algae, sea grape, or sailor's eyeballs, is a species of algae within the phylum Chlorophyta found in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world's oceans. It is one of the largest known unicellular organisms.
Characteristics
Valonia ventricosa has a coenocytic structure with multiple nuclei and chloroplasts. This organism possesses a large central vacuole that is multilobular in structure (lobules radiating from a central spheroid region).
The entire cell contains several cytoplasmic domains, with each domain having a nucleus and a few chloroplasts. Cytoplasmic domains are interconnected by cytoplasmic "bridges" that are supported by microtubules. The peripheral cytoplasm (whose membrane is overlaid by the cell wall) is only about 40 nm thick.
Valonia ventricosa typically grow individually, but in rare cases they can grow in groups.
Environment
They appear in tidal zones of tropical and subtropical areas, like the Caribbean, north through Florida, south to Brazil, and in the Indo-Pacific. Overall, they inhabit every ocean throughout the world, often living in coral rubble. The greatest observed depth for viability is approximately 80 metres (260 ft).
Physiology
The single-cell organism has forms ranging from spherical to ovoid, and the color varies from grass green to dark green, although in water they may appear to be silver, teal, or even blackish. This is determined by the quantity of chloroplasts of the specimen. The surface of the cell shines like glass when clean due to being extremely smooth with no texture.
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