# Halosphaera

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Halosphaera.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halosphaera
> Source revision: 1353361103
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{{Short description|Genus of algae}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Halosphaera viridis.jpg
| image_caption = ''Halosphaera viridis''
| taxon = Halosphaera
| authority = Schmitz 1879
| type_species = Halosphaera viridis
| type_species_authority = Schmitz 1879<ref name=AlgaeBase>{{AlgaeBase genus | id=44991 | title=''Halosphaera'' F.Schmitz, 1878 | access-date=2026-05-09 }}</ref>
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = 
* ''[H. minor](/source/H._minor)'' <small>Ostenfeld</small>
* ''[H. ovata](/source/H._ovata)'' <small>Schütt</small>
* ''[H. parkeae](/source/H._parkeae)'' <small>Boalch & Mommaerts</small>
* ''[H. russellii](/source/H._russellii)'' <small>Parke</small>
* ''[H. viridis](/source/H._viridis)'' <small>Schmitz 1878</small>
}}

'''''Halosphaera''''' is a [genus](/source/genus) of [green algae](/source/green_algae) in the order [Pyramimonadales](/source/Pyramimonadales).<ref>See the [NCBI](/source/National_Center_for_Biotechnology_Information) [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=81842 webpage on Halosphaera].  Data extracted from the {{cite web | url=https://ftp.ncbi.nih.gov/pub/taxonomy/ | title=NCBI taxonomy resources | publisher=[National Center for Biotechnology Information](/source/National_Center_for_Biotechnology_Information) | access-date=2007-03-19}}</ref> ''Halosphaera'' is widely distributed in the [plankton](/source/plankton) of oceans, and is found in both hemispheres.<ref name=AlgaeBase/>

''Halosphaera'' consists of two life stages: a non-motile coccoid stage, called the phycoma stage ({{pl.|phycomata}}), and a flagellated stage. The phycoma is spherical, up to 800 &mu;m in diameter, with two layers of [cell wall](/source/cell_wall)s: The inner wall is [pectin](/source/pectin)-like, while the outer wall is tough and [sporopollenin](/source/sporopollenin)-like. Mature phycomata contain a single [nucleus](/source/cell_nucleus) and several numerous [chloroplast](/source/chloroplast)s, in most species with [pyrenoid](/source/pyrenoid)s.<ref name=AlgaeBase/>

''Pterosperma'' divides asexually in the phycoma stage, forming a large number of flagellate swarmer cells. Swarmers have four long [flagella](/source/flagella) which arise from a pit in the anterior surrounded by four lobes. Each contain a single parietal chloroplast with two to four pyrenoids, and an [eyespot](/source/eyespot_apparatus). The cell body is covered with several types organic scales, and the flagella are also covered with multiple layers of cells. Flagellate cells can also divide by fission.<ref name=AlgaeBase/>

==References==
{{Reflist|1}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q5643460}}

Category:Chlorophyta genera
Category:Pyramimonadophyceae

{{green algae-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Halosphaera](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halosphaera) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halosphaera?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.