Volvox: freshwater alga

Volvox is commonly studied in biology classes because it represents a possibly primordial organisational state between a colony and a multicellular organism.

Volvox Structure: Volvox forms spherical colonies. The individual cells (reminiscent of Chlamydomonas) are oriented with their flagella radiating out from the colonial ball. In some types, cytoplasmic bridges connect the cells giving the sphere surface a reticulated appearance. Daughter colonies are seen inside the parent colony. Volvox live in freshwater (a green algae).