# Volvox

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Genus of algae

Volvox Volvox sp. Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Chlorophyta Class: Chlorophyceae Order: Chlamydomonadales Family: Volvocaceae Genus: Volvox L. Type species Volvox globator L.[1] Sections See § Taxonomy Synonyms[2] Besseyosphaera W.R.Shaw Campbellosphaera W.R.Shaw Copelandosphaera W.R.Shaw Janetosphaera W.R.Shaw Merrillosphaera W.R.Shaw Sphaerosira Ehrenberg

***Volvox*** is a [polyphyletic](/source/Polyphyly) [genus](/source/Genus) of [chlorophyte](/source/Chlorophyte) [green algae](/source/Green_algae) in the family [Volvocaceae](/source/Volvocaceae). *Volvox* species form spherical [colonies](/source/Colony_(biology)) of up to 50,000 [cells](/source/Cell_(biology)), and for this reason they are sometimes called **globe algae**. First reported by [Antonie van Leeuwenhoek](/source/Antonie_van_Leeuwenhoek) in 1700, it is distinctive and easily identified in the [microscope](/source/Microscope). It occurs in a variety of [freshwater](/source/Freshwater) habitats and has a widespread, [cosmopolitan distribution](/source/Cosmopolitan_distribution).[2]

*Volvox* diverged from unicellular ancestors approximately [200](https://geoltime.github.io/?Ma=200) million years ago.[3] Colonies of *Volvox* are differentiated into [somatic](/source/Somatic_cell) and reproductive cells, and are capable of both sexual and asexual [reproduction](/source/Reproduction). Additionally, its close relatives are diverse in body plan and reproductive strategy, ranging from unicellular organisms such as *[Chlamydomonas](/source/Chlamydomonas)* to simple colonial organisms such as *[Pandorina](/source/Pandorina)* and *[Eudorina](/source/Eudorina)*. Because of this, *Volvox* and its relatives are used as [model organisms](/source/Model_organism) in the classroom and laboratory to study biological processes such as cellular movement, [sexual reproduction](/source/Sexual_reproduction), and evolution of [multicellularity](/source/Multicellularity).[4]

## History of knowledge

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek first reported observations of *Volvox* in 1700.[5][6] After some drawings and a fuller description by [Henry Baker](/source/Henry_Baker_(naturalist)) in 1753,[7] [Carl Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus) named the genus in his 1758 work *[Systema Naturae](/source/Systema_Naturae)*;[8] Linnaeus named the genus *Volvox*, with two species: *[V. globator](/source/Volvox_globator)* and *V. chaos*. The name comes from the Latin term *volvere*, meaning "to roll", and -*ox*, meaning "fierce".[9] *Volvox chaos* is an [amoeba](/source/Amoeba) now known as *[Chaos](/source/Chaos_(genus))* sp.[10][11]

Linnaeus' description of *Volvox globator* was vague enough that it could apply to any of the currently accepted species of *Volvox*. The current [circumscription](/source/Circumscription_(taxonomy)) of *V. globator* is based on [Christian Gottfried Ehrenberg](/source/Christian_Gottfried_Ehrenberg)'s descriptions; however, he mistakenly thought the asexual and sexual colonies of *Volvox* were different species, and placed the male colonies in a separate genus, *Sphaerosira*. This confusion was cleared up by [Samuel Friedrich Stein](/source/Samuel_Friedrich_Stein) in 1878.[2]

In the twentieth century, [W. R. Shaw](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Walter_Robert_Shaw&action=edit&redlink=1) added several species to *Volvox*, but also split off many species into several genera, namely *Besseyosphaera*, *Campbellosphaera*, *Merrillosphaera*, *Copelandosphaera*, and *Janetosphaera*. Although most systematists did not accept these genera, they did accept them as [sections](/source/Section_(biology)) within the genus *Volvox*; [Gilbert Morgan Smith](/source/Gilbert_Morgan_Smith) reduced this to four sections in total.[2] More recently, phylogenetic studies revealed that *Volvox* was polyphyletic, consisting of several clades which partially aligned with the sections as defined by Smith.[12] Therefore, in 2015 [Hisayoshi Nozaki](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hisayoshi_Nozaki&action=edit&redlink=1) and colleagues emended the sections.[13]

## Description

*Volvox* colony: 1) *[Chlamydomonas](/source/Chlamydomonas)*-like cell, 2) Daughter colony, 3) Cytoplasmic bridges, 4) Intercellular gel, 5) Reproductive cell, 6) Somatic cell.

Mature [colonies](/source/Colony_(biology)) of *Volvox* are composed of hundreds, up to tens thousands of cells from two differentiated cell types: numerous [flagellate](/source/Flagellate) [somatic cells](/source/Somatic_(biology)) and a smaller number of [germ cells](/source/Germ_cell) lacking in soma that are embedded in the surface of a hollow sphere or [coenobium](/source/Coenobium_(morphology)) containing an [extracellular matrix](/source/Extracellular_matrix)[3] made of [glycoproteins](/source/Glycoprotein).[14]

Adult [somatic cells](/source/Somatic_cell) compose a single layer with the flagella facing outward, forming a hollow spheroid. The cells swim in a coordinated fashion, with distinct anterior and posterior poles. Each cell is enclosed in a gelatinous sheath, which is either distinct or confluent depending on the species. Cells are ovoid, spherical, or star-shaped, each with two equal [flagella](/source/Flagella). The cells have a cup-shaped [chloroplast](/source/Chloroplast) with a single [pyrenoid](/source/Pyrenoid) and an anterior [eyespot](/source/Eyespot_apparatus)[15] that enables the colony to swim toward light. The cells of colonies in the more basal *[Euvolvox](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Euvolvox&action=edit&redlink=1)* clade are interconnected by thin strands of [cytoplasm](/source/Cytoplasm), called protoplasmates.[16] Cell number is specified during development and is dependent on the number of rounds of division.[17]

### Reproduction

*Volvox* is facultatively sexual and can reproduce both sexually and asexually. In the lab, asexual reproduction is most commonly observed; the relative frequencies of sexual and asexual reproduction in the wild is unknown. The switch from asexual to sexual reproduction can be triggered by environmental conditions[18] and by the production of a sex-inducing pheromone.[19] Desiccation-resistant diploid [zygotes](/source/Zygote) are produced following successful fertilization.

An [asexual](/source/Asexual_reproduction) colony includes both somatic (vegetative) cells, which do not reproduce, and large, non-motile *[gonidia](/source/Gonidium)* in the interior, which produce new colonies asexually through repeated division. In [sexual reproduction](/source/Sexual_reproduction) two types of [gametes](/source/Gamete) are produced. *Volvox* species can be [monoecious](/source/Monoecious) or [dioecious](/source/Dioecious). [Male](/source/Male) colonies release numerous sperm packets, while in female colonies single cells enlarge to become oogametes, or eggs.[17][20]

Kirk and Kirk[21] showed that sex-inducing pheromone production can be triggered in [somatic cells](/source/Somatic_cell) by a short [heat shock](/source/Heat_shock) given to asexually growing organisms. The induction of sex by heat shock is mediated by [oxidative stress](/source/Oxidative_stress) that likely also causes oxidative DNA damage.[18][22] It has been suggested that switching to the sexual pathway is the key to surviving environmental stresses that include heat and [drought](/source/Drought).[23] Consistent with this idea, the induction of sex involves a [signal transduction](/source/Signal_transduction) pathway that is also induced in *Volvox* by wounding.[23]

### Colony inversion

[Colony inversion](/source/Colony_inversion) is a special characteristic during development in the order Volvocaceae that results in new colonies having their [flagella](/source/Flagella) facing outwards. During this process the asexual reproductive cells (gonidia) first undergo successive cell divisions to form a concave-to-cup-shaped embryo or [plakea](/source/Plakea) composed of a single cell layer. Immediately after, the cell layer is inside out compared with the adult configuration—the apical ends of the embryo protoplasts from which flagella are formed, are oriented toward the interior of the plakea. Then the embryo undergoes inversion, during which the cell layer inverts to form a spheroidal daughter colony with the apical ends and flagella of daughter protoplasts positioned outside. This process enables appropriate locomotion of spheroidal colonies of the Volvocaceae. The mechanism of inversion has been investigated extensively at the cellular and molecular levels using the model species, *[Volvox carteri](/source/Volvox_carteri)*.[24] Another species *[Volvox globator](/source/Volvox_globator)* has a similar mode of colony inversion, but begins at the posterior instead of the anterior.[4]

Embryonic inversion in *Volvox*. (a) Adult *V. globator* spheroid containing multiple embryos. (b) Embryo undergoing type-A inversion (e.g., *V. carteri*). (c) Embryo undergoing type-B inversion (e.g., *V. globator*, *V. aureus*). (d) Light micrograph shows semi-thin section of V. globator embryo exhibiting different cell shapes. (e) Schematic representation of cells in region marked in (d). PC: paddle-shaped cells, two different views illustrate anisotropic shape; SC: spindle-shaped cells; red line:  position of cytoplasmic bridges (CB). (f) 3D renderings of a single *V. globator* embryo in three successive stages of inversion. (g) Optical midsagittal cross sections of embryo in (f). (h) Traced cell sheet contours overlaid on sections in (g), with color-coded curvature κ. (i) Surfaces of revolution computed from averaged contours.[25]

## Habitats

*Volvox* is a genus of freshwater algae found in ponds and ditches, even in shallow puddles.[20] According to [Charles Joseph Chamberlain](/source/Charles_Joseph_Chamberlain),[26]

"The most favorable place to look for it is in the deeper ponds, [lagoons](/source/Lagoon), and ditches which receive an abundance of rain water. It has been said that where you find *[Lemna](/source/Lemna)*, you are likely to find *Volvox*; and it is true that such water is favorable, but the shading is unfavorable. Look where you find *[Sphagnum](/source/Sphagnum)*, *[Vaucheria](/source/Vaucheria)*, *[Alisma](/source/Alisma)*, *[Equisetum fluviatile](/source/Equisetum_fluviatile)*, *[Utricularia](/source/Utricularia)*, *[Typha](/source/Typha)*, and *[Chara](/source/Chara_(alga))*. Dr. Nieuwland reports that *[Pandorina](/source/Pandorina)*, *[Eudorina](/source/Eudorina)* and *[Gonium](/source/Gonium)* are commonly found as constituents of the green scum on wallows in fields where pigs are kept. The flagellate, *[Euglena](/source/Euglena)*, is often associated with these forms."

## Taxonomy

*Volvox* is divided into four sections, which differ from each other by the morphology of their somatic cells, asexual spheroids and zygotes:[2][13]

- *Volvox* sect. *Volvox* — Cells have coarse cytoplasmic connections between each other and are therefore stellate in polar view. The gonidia are relatively small, less than 15 μm in diameter, and are differentiated late in the development of the colony. Zygotes have spiny walls.[2]

- *Volvox* sect. *Besseyosphaera* — Cells have no cytoplasmic connections between each other and are circular in polar view. Asexual spheroids have more than 20 gonidia. Zygotes lack spiny walls.[2][13]

- *Volvox* sect. *Merrillosphaera* (synonyms: sect. *Campbellosphaera*, sect. *Copelandosphaera*) — Cells have delicate cytoplasmic connections (or no connections) between each other, and are circular in polar view. Asexual spheroids have less than 20 gonidia. Zygotes lack spiny walls.[2][13]

- *Volvox* sect. *Janetosphaera* — Cells have delicate cytoplasmic connections between each other, and are circular in polar view. They lack distinct gelatinous sheaths surrounding individual cells, instead having a colonial matrix where individual sheaths are fused together. Gelatinous strands also radiate from the center to the inner surface of the colonial matrix.[2]

In practice gelatinous sheaths and delicate cytoplasmic connections are difficult to observe, and are only reliably visible after staining with a dye such as [methylene blue](/source/Methylene_blue).[2]

### Species

*Volvox* contains the following species, according to [AlgaeBase](/source/AlgaeBase).[1] In addition to these accepted species, there a number of dubious "species" described under the genus *Volvox* which are amoebae, and/or otherwise do not belong to the current definition of *Volvox*.[27]

***Volvox* sect. *Besseyosphaera***[13]

- *[Volvox gigas](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvox_gigas&action=edit&redlink=1)*

- *[Volvox powersii](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvox_powersii&action=edit&redlink=1)*

***Volvox* sect. *Janetosphaera***[13]

- *[Volvox aureus](/source/Volvox_aureus)*

- *[Volvox pocockiae](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvox_pocockiae&action=edit&redlink=1)*

***Volvox* sect. *Merrillosphaera***[13]

- *[Volvox africanus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvox_africanus&action=edit&redlink=1)*

- *[Volvox carteri](/source/Volvox_carteri)*

- *[Volvox dissipatrix](/source/Volvox_dissipatrix)*

- *[Volvox obversus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvox_obversus&action=edit&redlink=1)*

- *[Volvox ovalis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvox_ovalis&action=edit&redlink=1)*

- *[Volvox reticuliferus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvox_reticuliferus&action=edit&redlink=1)*

- *[Volvox spermatosphaera](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvox_spermatosphaera&action=edit&redlink=1)*

- *[Volvox tertius](/source/Volvox_tertius)*

- *[Volvox zeikusii](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvox_zeikusii&action=edit&redlink=1)*[28][note 1]

***Volvox* sect. *Volvox***[13]

- *[Volvox amboensis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvox_amboensis&action=edit&redlink=1)*

- *[Volvox biwakoensis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvox_biwakoensis&action=edit&redlink=1)*[29]

- *[Volvox barberi](/source/Volvox_barberi)*

- *[Volvox capensis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvox_capensis&action=edit&redlink=1)*

- *[Volvox ferrisii](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvox_ferrisii&action=edit&redlink=1)*

- *[Volvox globator](/source/Volvox_globator)*

- *[Volvox kirkiorum](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvox_kirkiorum&action=edit&redlink=1)*

- *[Volvox longispiniferus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvox_longispiniferus&action=edit&redlink=1)*[30]

- *[Volvox merrillii](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvox_merrillii&action=edit&redlink=1)*

- *[Volvox perglobator](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvox_perglobator&action=edit&redlink=1)*

- *[Volvox prolificus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvox_prolificus&action=edit&redlink=1)*

- *[Volvox rousseletii](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvox_rousseletii&action=edit&redlink=1)*

**Unplaced to section**

- *[Volvox fertilis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvox_fertilis&action=edit&redlink=1)*[31]

Although the genus *Volvox* is easy to identify, species-level identification of *Volvox* can be difficult.[2] Species are morphologically distinguished based on a variety of characters including zygote morphology, developmental characteristics, and sexual characteristics (e.g. [dioicy](/source/Dioicy) or [monoicy](/source/Monoicy)).[13][29]

## Evolution

*Volvox* is [polyphyletic](/source/Polyphyletic). The section containing the type species, *Volvox* sect. *Volvox*, is [sister](/source/Sister_group) to the rest of the family. Other members of *Volvox* are dispersed within three clades, all nested within *Eudorina*.[32]

Ancestors of *Volvox* transitioned from single cells that initially resembled *[Chlamydomonas](/source/Chlamydomonas)* to form multicellular colonies at least [200](https://geoltime.github.io/?Ma=200) million years ago, during the [Triassic](/source/Triassic) [period](/source/Geologic_time_scale).[3][33] Genera intermediate in morphology, such as *Gonium*, contain 16 *Chlamydomonas*-like cells and are thought to represent intermediate stages in evolution. An estimate using [DNA sequences](/source/DNA_sequence) from about 45 different species of volvocine green algae, including *Volvox*, suggests that the transition from single cells to undifferentiated multicellular colonies took about 35 million years.[3][33]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-AlgaeBase_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-AlgaeBase_1-1) Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. ["*Volvox* Linnaeus, 1758"](https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=43497). *[AlgaeBase](/source/AlgaeBase)*. [University of Galway](/source/University_of_Galway). Retrieved 2025-04-12.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Smith1944_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Smith1944_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Smith1944_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Smith1944_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Smith1944_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Smith1944_2-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Smith1944_2-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-Smith1944_2-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-Smith1944_2-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-Smith1944_2-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-Smith1944_2-10) Smith, G.M. (1944). "A Comparative Study of the Species of *Volvox*". *Transactions of the American Microscopical Society*. **63** (4): 265–310. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1944TrAMS..63..265S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1944TrAMS..63..265S). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/3223302](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F3223302). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [3223302](https://www.jstor.org/stable/3223302).

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Herron, Matthew D.; Desnitskiy, Alexey G.; Michod, Richard E. (2010). "Evolution of developmental programs in *Volvox* (Chlorophyta)". *Journal of Phycology*. **46** (2): 316–324. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1529-8817.2009.00803.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1529-8817.2009.00803.x).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Nozaki2015_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Nozaki2015_13-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Nozaki2015_13-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Nozaki2015_13-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Nozaki2015_13-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Nozaki2015_13-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Nozaki2015_13-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-Nozaki2015_13-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-Nozaki2015_13-8) Nozaki, Hisayoshi; Matsuzaki, Ryo; Yamamoto, Kayoko; Kawachi, Masanobu; Takahashi, Fumio (2015). ["Delineating a New Heterothallic Species of Volvox (Volvocaceae, Chlorophyceae) Using New Strains of "Volvox africanus""](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4643018). *PLOS ONE*. **10** (11) e0142632. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2015PLoSO..1042632N](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2015PLoSO..1042632N). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1371/journal.pone.0142632](https://doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0142632). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [4643018](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4643018). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [26562165](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26562165).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Hallmann_14-0)** Hallmann, A. (2003). "Extracellular Matrix and Sex-Inducing Pheromone in Volvox". *Extracellular matrix and sex-inducing pheromone in*Volvox. International Review of Cytology. Vol. 227. pp. 131–182. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/S0074-7696(03)01009-X](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0074-7696%2803%2901009-X). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-12-364631-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-12-364631-6). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [14518551](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14518551).

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-pmid15306305_22-0)** Nedelcu, AM; Marcu, O; Michod, RE (2004). ["Sex as a response to oxidative stress: a twofold increase in cellular reactive oxygen species activates sex genes"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1691771). *Proc. Biol. Sci*. **271** (1548): 1591–6. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2004PBioS.271.1591N](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2004PBioS.271.1591N). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1098/rspb.2004.2747](https://doi.org/10.1098%2Frspb.2004.2747). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [1691771](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1691771). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [15306305](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15306305).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Amon_23-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Amon_23-1) Amon, P; Haas, E; Sumper, M (1998). ["The sex-inducing pheromone and wounding trigger the same set of genes in the multicellular green alga Volvox"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC144025). *Plant Cell*. **10** (5): 781–9. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1998PlanC..10..781A](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1998PlanC..10..781A). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2307/3870664](https://doi.org/10.2307%2F3870664). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [3870664](https://www.jstor.org/stable/3870664). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [144025](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC144025). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [9596636](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9596636).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Yamashita_24-0)** Yamashita, S; Arakaki, Y; Kawai-Toyooka, H; Noga, A; Hirono, M; Nozaki, H (Nov 2016). ["Alternative evolution of a spheroidal colony in volvocine algae: developmentalanalysis of embryogenesis in Astrephomene (Volvocales, Chlorophyta)"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5103382). *BMC Evol. Biol*. **16** (1): 243. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2016BMCEE..16..243Y](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016BMCEE..16..243Y). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1186/s12862-016-0794-x](https://doi.org/10.1186%2Fs12862-016-0794-x). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [5103382](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5103382). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [27829356](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27829356). Material was copied from this source, which is available under a [Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** Stephanie Höhn, Aurelia R. Honerkamp-Smith, Pierre A. Haas, Philipp Khuc Trong, and Raymond E. Goldstein Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 178101 – Published 27 April 2015. This article contains quotations from this source, which is available under the [Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 (CC BY 3.0)](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) license.

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1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Nozaki2024_30-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Nozaki2024_30-1) Nozaki, Hisayoshi; Matsuzaki, Ryo; Shimotori, Koichi; Ueki, Noriko; Heman, Wirawan; Mahakham, Wuttipong; Yamaguchi, Haruyo; Tanabe, Yuuhiko; Kawachi, Masanobu (2024). ["Two species of the green algae *Volvox* sect. *Volvox* from the Japanese ancient lake, Lake Biwa"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11419359). *PLOS ONE*. **19** (9) e0310549. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1371/journal.pone.0310549](https://doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0310549). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [11419359](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11419359). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [39312548](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39312548).

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** Nayal, A.A. (1934). ["On some freshwater algae from Egypt"](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/281372#page/30/mode/1up). *Revue algologique*. **8** (3–4): 311–319.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Lindsey2024_33-0)** Lindsey, Charles Ross; Knoll, Andrew H.; Herron, Matthew D.; Rosenzweig, Frank (2024-04-10). ["Fossil-calibrated molecular clock data enable reconstruction of steps leading to differentiated multicellularity and anisogamy in the Volvocine algae"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11007952). *BMC Biology*. **22** (1): 79. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2024BMCB...22...79L](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2024BMCB...22...79L). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1186/s12915-024-01878-1](https://doi.org/10.1186%2Fs12915-024-01878-1). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1741-7007](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1741-7007). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [11007952](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11007952). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [38600528](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38600528).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Herron2009_34-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Herron2009_34-1) Herron, MD; Hackett, JD; Aylward, FO; Michod, RE (2009). ["Triassic origin and early radiation of multicellular volvocine algae"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2651347). *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA*. **106** (9): 3254–3258. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2009PNAS..106.3254H](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009PNAS..106.3254H). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1073/pnas.0811205106](https://doi.org/10.1073%2Fpnas.0811205106). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [2651347](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2651347). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [19223580](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19223580).

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** Closely related to *V. dissipatrix*.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Volvox](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Volvox).

[Wikispecies](/source/Wikispecies) has information related to ***[Volvox](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Volvox)***.

- [*Volvox* description with pictures](http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/pdb/Images/Chlorophyta/Volvox/index.html) from a [Hosei University](/source/Hosei_University) website

- [YouTube](/source/YouTube) videos of *Volvox*: - [Volvox micro-motility in Lake Oroville, CA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HtArsoZQzU) - [Life cycle and inversion](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqEHbJbuMYA) - [Waltzing *Volvox*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6Yg2BQy82w) - [Spinning *Volvox*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8O4OolGcPg)

- [*Volvox*, one of the 7 Wonders of the Micro World](http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artdec03/volvox.html) by Wim van Egmond, from Microscopy-UK

- [*Volvox carteri*](https://web.archive.org/web/20141228154317/http://www.metamicrobe.com/volvox/) at MetaMicrobe.com, with modes of reproduction, brief facts

v t e Antonie van Leeuwenhoek General topics Van Leeuwenhoek's microscopes Van Leeuwenhoek's microscopic experiments and discoveries Van Leeuwenhoek's microscopic discovery of microbial life Van Leeuwenhoek's letters to the Royal Society Recognitions Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Ziekenhuis Leeuwenhoek (crater) Leeuwenhoek Lecture Leeuwenhoek Medal Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (journal) Leeuwenhoeckia Levenhookia Leeuwenhoekiella Category

Taxon identifiers Volvox Wikidata: Q310495 Wikispecies: Volvox AlgaeBase: 43497 CoL: 878T EoL: 11637 EPPO: 1VLXG GBIF: 2639376 iNaturalist: 121588 IRMNG: 1032842 ITIS: 5582 NBN: NHMSYS0000607480 NCBI: 3066 NZOR: 8f3babf4-582c-43f0-8af7-7236b52ccb2c Open Tree of Life: 391126 Plazi: 043033C7-9BEE-1DA8-D4A3-1A9F7D011088 WoRMS: 576718

Authority control databases International GND Other Yale LUX

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