29+ Green Algae Example: Detailed Facts

This article will look at some green algae examples and study more about them.

Green algae contain the photosynthetic pigments chlorophyll a and b, xanthophyll, and carotene in large amounts within their cells, giving them a green colour.

Prasinodermophyta, Chlorophyta, and Charophyta are all part of the same group. They come in various sizes and shapes, including unicellular or multicellular, tubular, colonial, and filamentous varieties. The green algae spores can be either motile or non-motile, depending on the type.

The majority of green algae are found in freshwater, where it adheres to underwater rocks, stagnant water, seawater, and land. 

Green Algae Example

1. Sea lettuce

The Ulvaceae family includes sea lettuce, which is a type of green algae. Sea lettuce is named because it grows on the rocky beaches of seas and oceans all over the world and is edible. Its cells contain a large amount of chlorophyll, which offers it a green color.

2. Dunaliella salina

Dunaliella salina is a Chlorophyta-type green microalga. However, it appears orange due to its chloroplast’s ability to store high amounts of -carotene. It is a type of unicellular algae that thrives in hypersaline habitats.

3. Marimo

Marimo is a type of filamentous green algae belonging to the Chlorophyta family. It thrives in freshwater lakes and appears to be big balls-shaped algae. It’s often mistaken for moss, although it’s an alga.

Marimo as green algae example
Marimo as green algae example – Wikipedia

4. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a green alga belonging to the Chlorophyta division. It is green in colour because it includes a huge cup-shaped chloroplast. It comprises a covering of carotenoid-rich granules in the chloroplast that act as a sunlight reflector.

5. Ulva intestinalis

Ulva intestinalis is a member of the Ulvaceae family of green algae. Sea lettuce is another name, and Ulva intestinalis can be found in the sea and oceans. The chloroplast of this form of green alga is hood-shaped.

6. Scenedesmus obliquus

Scenedesmus obliquus is a green alga that belongs to the Chlorophyta division. It is greenish because it includes photosynthetic pigments like chlorophyll.

7. Caulerpa taxifolia

Caulerpa taxifolia is a member of the Caulerpaceae family of green seaweed algae species. It is found in marine setups and is kept in aquariums as an ornamental décor algae species to enhance the appearance of the aquarium.

8. Haematococcus pluvialis

Haematococcus Pluvialis belongs to the Chlorophyceae family. Although it has a blood reddish tint when taken under observation, it is a freshwater microgreen alga.

Haematococcus pluvialis as green algae example
Haematococcus pluvialis as green algae example – Wikipedia

9. Chlorella

Chlorella is a type of green algae belonging to the Chlorophyta category. In this type of green algae, the chloroplasts contain the green photosynthetic pigments that are chlorophyll a and b.

10. Water silk

Water silk, or spirogyra, is a filamentous green alga that belongs to the Chlorophyta division. Its chloroplasts are organized spherically, usually found in freshwater environments.

11. Latok algae

Caulerpa lentillifera and sea grapes are other names for latok algae. It belongs to the Caulerpaceae family of green algae. It is edible and contains a lot of chlorophyll. Latok can find it in saltwater environments.

12. Volvox

Volvox is a single-celled green alga belonging to the Volvocaceae family. It’s also known as plant-like protists since its cells contain chlorophyll and live in colonies. Volvox can only find it in freshwater conditions.

13. Codium fragile

Green sea fingers, commonly known as Codium fragile, are seaweed algae belonging to the Codiaceae family and division of Chlorophyta. It is found in marine waters and is dark green in colouration as it contains chlorophyll.

14. Desmids

Desmids, also known as Desmidiales, are small green algae with only a single cell. It belongs to the Charophyta order. For photosynthesizing, it frequently folds chloroplast.

15. Hydrodictyon

The freshwater green algae Hydrodictyon, often known as water net, belongs to the Chlorophyta division. Their colonies have a mesh structure with chlorophyll content.

16. Cladophora

Cladophora is a filamentous green alga that corresponds to the Cladophoraceae family. Cladophora is a type of multicellular algae found in both freshwater and saltwater.

Cladophora as green algae example
Cladophora as green algae example – Wikipedia

17.  Acetabularia

Acetabularia, or mermaid’s wineglass, is a single-celled green alga that belongs to the Polyphysaceae family. Unlike other algae, it has a large nucleus content.

18. Caulerpa

Caulerpa is a single-celled green alga belonging to the Caulerpaceae family. It is green in tone because it includes photosynthetic pigments like chlorophyll.

19. Ulothrix

Ulothrix is a filamentous multicellular alga belonging to the Chlorophyta division. It can be found in both fresh and marine water. Each chloroplast contains two or many pyrenoids and has a single girdle-like and posterior chloroplast.

20. Oedogonium

Oedogonium is a filamentous green alga belonging to the Chlorophyta division. It lives in freshwater. Green, threadlike, multicellular filaments are organized end to end in the algal body.

21. Globe algae

The family Volvocaceae includes globe algae, also known as volvox. Although this species can be found in a variety of habitats,  it prefers freshwater. These are specifically designed to survive in colonies.

22. Prabinophyte

Prabinophytes are unicellular green algae that belong to the Chlorophyta division. It can be found both in freshwater and in the ocean.  It has a single chloroplast and basic cellular components.

23. Tetraselmis

Tetraselmis is a genus of green algae that belongs to the Chlorophyta class. Their bright green chloroplasts distinguish them.

24. Pandorina

Pandorina is a genus of green algae belonging to the Chlorophyceae family. It has at least a single pyrenoid and a big cup-shaped chloroplast.

Pandorina as Green algae example
Pandorina as Green algae example – Wikipedia

25. Microspora

Microspora is a green filamentous alga of the Microsporaceae family. It has chloroplast in cylindrical or inflated cells.

26. Coleochaete

Coleochaete is a green multicellular charophyte alga in the Coleochaetaceae family. It can be found in freshwater bodies.

27. Struvea

Struvea is a green alga belonging to the Boodleaceae family and the Chlorophyta division. It can be found in marine environments.

28. Halimeda

Halimeda is a genus of green macroalgae belonging to the Chlorophyta class. Calcified green portions make up the algal body.

Helimeda as green algae example
Helimeda as green algae example – Wikipedia

29. Chlorosarcina

Chlorosarcina is a green algae species that belongs to the Chlorophyta division. It can be found in terrestrial environments.

30. Capsosiphon fulvescens

Capsosiphon fulvescens is a green microalga belonging to the Ulotrichaceae family. It can be found in marine habitats and is commercially edible.

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