How does Volvox form a colony of cells?

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“mermaid's wine glass” algae — Algae The macroscopic genus of algae known as *Acetabularia* is commonly called “mermaid's wine glass” because of the distinctive umbrella-like shape of the tips of its stalks.

Volvox are freshwater algae that form spherical or oval hollow colonies consisting of 500 to 60,000 individual cells. These cells are embedded within a gelatinous wall and are frequently connected to their neighbors by strands of cytoplasm, which facilitate essential cell-to-cell communication.1

The colony functions as a coordinated unit, moving through water via the synchronized beating of the flagella present on each somatic cell. Within the colony, cells exhibit a degree of specialization: they are organized so that cells with larger eyespots are grouped on one side to aid in phototaxis, while reproductive cells are clustered on the opposite side.1

New colonies are formed through asexual reproduction, where specialized reproductive cells called gonidia produce small daughter colonies. These daughter colonies remain within the parent until they reach maturity, at which point they are released.1