Chlorocytuses

The chlorocytus genus group has replaced its ancestors the chlorocytus, wheelcytus, necklacecytus, clustercytus and other green photosynthetic microbes. They are the base of many marine ecosystems and live where ever there is sunlight and flowing water, be it the ocean, rivers or lakes. Like its ancestors it absorbs red light with its green chloroplasts and reproduces via binary fission.

Some have moving flagellum while others have ridged flagellum what have locked them into colonial shapes. They range in size from 20 micrometer individual cells to large colonies 200 micrometers long. They grow in large numbers where nutrients are abundant such as in rivers, lakes and wetlands. When in the ocean they mostly grow where nutrients are brought up from the deep oceans or near river deltas. In the autumn the major "blooms" occur which tint the water a green hue. While some can move a little most just save energy by flowing with the currents.