At a glance
Essentials
- Habitat
- Temperate soil habitats.
Observation guide
What to look for
- 01
Unicellular cell with two anterior cilia and a cup-shaped chloroplast containing a pyrenoid.
- 02
Morphology can help identify the genus Chlamydomonas, but is rarely sufficient to distinguish this species from other similar-looking species; unambiguous identification requires genetic markers.
Lighting, age and viewing angle can hide features. If identification affects consumption, handling or conservation, consult specialist sources.
Ecology
Description and characteristics
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a unicellular green alga also known for its use as a model organism for investigating processes such as photosynthesis, light perception, and the structure and function of cilia. Its cells have two anterior cilia and a cup-shaped chloroplast that contains a pyrenoid.
It occurs in temperate soil habitats. The cell shape and chloroplast with a pyrenoid can help with recognition within the genus Chlamydomonas, but many species look very similar, and morphology alone rarely allows identification with confidence to species level. Sequencing ITS spacers or other informative genes allows it to be identified unambiguously.