Definition

Noun: 1. A genus of green algae: Volvox is the type genus of the family Volvocaceae. It consists of microscopic, free-swimming organisms that form hollow, spherical colonies composed of hundreds to thousands of individual cells. 2. A colonial flagellate: Each Volvox colony is a coordinated, rolling sphere of biflagellated cells. The individual cells use their minute flagella to rotate the entire colony through the water.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Under the microscope, we observed a Volvox colony moving in a rolling motion.
  • Volvox is often studied in biology classes as a model for the evolution of multicellularity.
  • The spherical structure of Volvox allows it to efficiently photosynthesize.

Advanced Usage

• "Volvox globator": This is a common species name within the genus .
  • The sample contained several specimens of Volvox globator.

Variants and Related Words

• Volvocaceae (n): The family of green algae to which the genus belongs.
• Colonial (adj): Describing organisms like that live in interconnected groups.
• Flagellate (n/adj): An organism possessing one or more flagella; cells are biflagellated.

Synonyms

• Green alga: A broad term for chlorophyll-containing, primarily aquatic organisms of the division Chlorophyta, which includes .
• Colonial organism: An organism composed of many connected cells that show some degree of specialization.

Notes

Volvox is a proper noun referring to a specific genus. It is typically italicized in scientific writing. The defining characteristic is its formation of beautiful, rotating spherical colonies, making it a classic example of a colonial protist.

Noun

1. type genus of the Volvocaceae; minute pale green flagellates occurring in tiny spherical colonies; minute flagella rotate the colony about an axis