| Marimo | |
|---|---|
| |
| Marimo in Lake Akan in Japan | |
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Clade: | Viridiplantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | UTC clade |
| Order: | Cladophorales |
| Family: | Pithophoraceae |
| Genus: | Aegagropila Kützing |
| Species: | A. linnaei
|
| Binomial name | |
| Aegagropila linnaei Kützing
| |
Marimo[a] (also known as Cladophora ball, moss ball, moss ball pet, or lake ball) is a rare growth form of Aegagropila linnaei (a species of filamentous green algae) in which the algae grow into large green balls with a velvety appearance.
The species can be found in a number of lakes and rivers in Japan and Northern Europe.[1] Colonies of marimo balls are known to form in Japan and Iceland, but their population has been declining.[2]
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
- ^ Boedeker et al. 2010: Figure 4
- ^ Boedeker, Christian; Eggert, Anja; Immers, Anne; Smets, Erik (2010). "Global Decline of and Threats to Aegagropila linnaei, with Special Reference to the Lake Ball Habit". BioScience. 60 (3): 187–198. doi:10.1525/bio.2010.60.3.5.