| Chaetomorpha | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chaetomorpha antennina | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Ulvophyceae |
| Order: | Cladophorales |
| Family: | Cladophoraceae |
| Genus: | Chaetomorpha Kützing |
| Type species | |
| Chaetomorpha melagonium (F.Weber & D.Mohr) Kützing [1] | |
| Species | |
See text | |
Chaetomorpha is a genus of green algae in the family Cladophoraceae. [1] Members of this genus may be referred to by the common name sea emerald.
Algae of this genus are made up of macroscopic filaments [2] which are uniseriate (one cell thick) and unbranched. Cells are cylindrical to barrel-shaped, multinucleate, with thick cell walls. The chloroplast is parietal and net-like, with many pyrenoids. [3]
The genus is characterized by its unbranched filaments, making it distinctive; its closest relatives are branching species of the genus Cladophora . [4]
Asexual reproduction occurs by biflagellate or quadriflagellate zoospores, or by the fragmentation of filaments. Sexual reproduction is isogamous, and involves biflagellate gametes. [1]
Chaetomorpha is probably cosmopolitan. [3] It occurs in marine or brackish waters, and very rarely in freshwater. [1] A few species of freshwater Chaetomorpha have been described, but their taxonomic placement within Chaetophora is doubtful. [5]
There are about 50 species. [4] Species include: [1]
These algae are popular with aquarium hobbyists. Dumping of aquarium specimens into waterways has led to the establishment of nonnative Chaetomorpha populations, which degrades ecosystems when the algae become invasive species. Biologists recommend boiling, microwaving, freezing, or desiccating aquarium Chaetomorpha before disposing of it to avoid inadvertent releases. [6]
