Chlamydomonas perigranulata sp nov (Chlamydomonadales, Chlorophyceae) fromthe Red Sea

A walled and biflagellate green organism assignable to the genus Chlamydomo nas was isolated from seawater samples collected from the Red Sea, and unia lgal cultures (YA-SH-1) were established. They were examined with light and electron microscopy and compared with both previously described marine or brackish water representatives of Chlamydomonas and related genera includin g Chlorococcum and Cystomonas. The alga was characterized by numerous spher ical granules which were situated at the periphery of the cell and which co vered the entire cell surface. Ultrastructurally, these granules were lipoi dal globules projecting outward from the cell membrane. Based on this uniqu e morphology as a major diagnostic feature, C. perigranulata sp. nov. was p roposed.