Volvox globator, surface view of colony. Volvox spp. (chlorophytes, a type of green algae) are relatively large (->500 um), hollow spherical colonies with up to 15,000 cells embedded in their gelatinous walls. They may be conspicuous in the plankton of ponds, lakes and even ditches. Each cell has a chloroplast, 2 flagella and a red 'eyespot'. The locomotory cells of V. globator are rather irregularly spaced, with stout protoplasmic interconnections (seen here). Smaller daughter colonies, sexual or asexual, may be seen swimming within the parent coenobium. There are out-of-focus views of 2 of these (possibly male colonies) in the photograph. DIC.