''Nephrocytium'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

green algae The green algae (singular: green alga) are a group consisting of the Prasinodermophyta and its unnamed sister which contains the Chlorophyta and Charophyta/Streptophyta. The land plants (Embryophytes) have emerged deep in the Charophyte alga as ...

in the class Chlorophyceae. Formerly placed in the family

Oocystaceae Oocystaceae is a family of green algae, in the order Chlorellales. The type genus is '' Oocystis''. List of genera , AlgaeBase accepted the following genera: *'' Amphikrikos'' Korshikov – 6 species *'' Catenocystis'' F.Hindák – 2 specie ...

, it is currently placed in its own family, Nephrocytiaceae.

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 A chloroplast () is a type of membrane-bound organelle known as a plastid that conducts photosynthesis mostly in plant and algal cells. The photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll captures the energy from sunlight, converts it, and stores it in ...

lining the inside of the cell membrane, each with one pyrenoid. Reproduction occurs asexually. It exclusively forms

autospore An autospore is a non-motile (non-flagellated) aplanospore that is produced within a parent cell, and has the same shape as the parent cell, before release. Autospores, in addition to zoospore and aplanospore, are one of the three types of spores t ...

s, and does not appear to have a flagellated stage in its life cycle.

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. 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.

References

Sphaeropleales genera Sphaeropleales {{Green algae-stub