Chaetomorpha

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
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.

Description

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]

Habitat

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]

Species

There are about 50 species.^[4] Species include:^[1]

Uses

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]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. "Chaetomorpha Kützing, 1845, nom. cons". AlgaeBase. University of Galway. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
^ Jones, W. E. A Key to the Genera of the British Seaweeds. 1962,. Fields Studies Vol.1 no.4 pp.1 - 32
^ ^a ^b John, David M.; Whitton, Brian A.; Brook, Alan J. (2021). The Freshwater Algal Flora of the British Isles (2 ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 896. doi:10.1017/CHOL9781108784122. ISBN 978-1-108-78412-2.
^ ^a ^b Leliaert, Frederik, et al. (2011). Atypical development of Chaetomorpha antennina in culture (Cladophorales, Chlorophyta). Phycological Research 59.2 91-97.
^ Škaloud, Pavel; Rindi, Fabio; Boedeker, Christian; Leliaert, Frederik (2018). Chlorophyta: Ulvophyceae. Süßwasserflora von Mitteleuropa. Vol. 13. Berlin, Germany: Springer Spektrum. pp. i–x, 1–289. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-55495-1. ISBN 978-3-662-55494-4.
^ Odom, R. L., et al. (2014). Alternatives to release: Efficient methods for disposal of excess or unwanted aquarium macroalgae in the genus Chaetomorpha. Invasive Plant Science and Management 7(1) 76-83.

[AlgaeBase-1] Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. "Chaetomorpha Kützing, 1845, nom. cons". AlgaeBase. University of Galway. Retrieved 2025-07-10.

[2] Jones, W. E. A Key to the Genera of the British Seaweeds. 1962,. Fields Studies Vol.1 no.4 pp.1 - 32

[John2021-3] John, David M.; Whitton, Brian A.; Brook, Alan J. (2021). The Freshwater Algal Flora of the British Isles (2 ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 896. doi:10.1017/CHOL9781108784122. ISBN 978-1-108-78412-2.

[leliaert-4] Leliaert, Frederik, et al. (2011). Atypical development of Chaetomorpha antennina in culture (Cladophorales, Chlorophyta). Phycological Research 59.2 91-97.

[Skaloud-5] Škaloud, Pavel; Rindi, Fabio; Boedeker, Christian; Leliaert, Frederik (2018). Chlorophyta: Ulvophyceae. Süßwasserflora von Mitteleuropa. Vol. 13. Berlin, Germany: Springer Spektrum. pp. i–x, 1–289. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-55495-1. ISBN 978-3-662-55494-4.

[6] Odom, R. L., et al. (2014). Alternatives to release: Efficient methods for disposal of excess or unwanted aquarium macroalgae in the genus Chaetomorpha. Invasive Plant Science and Management 7(1) 76-83.

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