Colacium Ehrenberg, 1834

Lectotype species: Colacium vesiculosum Ehrenberg

Original publication: Ehrenberg, C.G. (1834). Dritter Beitrag zur Erkenntniss grosser Organisation in der Richtung des kleinsten Raumes. Abhandlungen der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1833: 145-336, pls I-XIII.

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Description: Green Euglena-like cells, 15-50 x 5-20 _m, normally attached to a substratum by mucilaginous secretions from the canal, cell division resulting in clumps of cells or dendroid colonies of a few to hundreds of cells joined to each other by mucilaginous stalks. The settled cells shed the long flagellum but retain their 2 flagella within the reservoir, including the (reduced) flagellar swelling. Any cell can regrow the locomotory flagellum (in about an hour), escape from the colony as a free-swimming organism (indistinguishable from Euglena), settle elsewhere on its anterior end and secrete a new stalk and sheath of mucilage. Studies of this genus have been made by Johnson (1934) and Pringsheim (1953a) and with EM by Willey and Wibel (1985) who demonstrate a possible homologue of the cytopharynx of Isonema (Diplonema) and bodonids. Freshwater, growing attached to filamentous algae, aquatic angiosperms, Cyclops, Daphnia and other aquatic animals, including fish; fairly common worldwide.

Information contributed by: G.F. Leedale. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2017-12-30 by M.D. Guiry.

Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Cavalier-Smith, T. (2016). Higher classification and phylogeny of Euglenozoa. European Journal of Protistology 56: 250–276, 2 figs.

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Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in CD format. These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above. The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.

Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.

Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=43647

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 30 December 2017. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 22 November 2024