Download Volvox

Volvox
Colonies and Similarity to
the Development Of A
Sponge
What is a volvox?

A volvox is a chlorophyte, a green algae.
The little algae always live in a colony with
each other. They are connected by strands
of cytoplasm, this allows them to work as
a whole

The cells in volvox have two flagella that
they use to swim through water. The cells
on the circular border of the volvox use
their flagella to move the entire volvox.
Sexual and Asexual
The spheres on the inside of the volvox
are called gonads, or daughter colonies.
 The gonads grow from cells in the equator
of the volvox.
 These cells enlarge and divide until they
become visible spheres.
 The flagella are on the inside of the
spheres so they need to turn themselves
inside out.


Reproduction and Development
Both Volvoxes and Sponges reproduce
sexually and assexualy.
 Both individuals can produce both egg
and sperm.
 The sperm and the egg fuse in the colony
of each organism and they form a zygote.
 This zygote is released out of the sponge
or volvox.

Similarity to Sponges