Genus: Colonies of 4, 8, 16 or 32 cells in a gelatinous sheath; cell body long cylindroid, strongly curved or twisted, both ends rounded; a chloroplast full within the cell; a single pyrenoid (Guide book to the "Photomicrographs of the Freshwater Algae", 1998). Species: Similar to K. lunaris but more spherical, 5-6 μm diam. (Illustrations of The Japanese Fresh-water Algae, 1977). Colonies within a hyaline, gelatinous matrix; cell body flattened, broadly crescent-shaped (nearly U-shaped), both ends rounded, 6-16 μm long, 3-8 μm wide (Photomicrographs of the Freshwater Algae, 1984).

Similar Genus -->> Selenastrum; Selenodictyum; Dimorphococcus;

50 μm 100 μm 150 μm; x 400 : 31 μm 63 μm 94 μm; x 640

Kirchneriella lunaris (Kirchner) Moebius: Colonies of 4-32 cells within a gelatinous matrix, cells crescent in shape, termini rounded, 8-12 μm long, 3-6 μm wide (Illustrations of The Japanese Fresh-water Algae, 1977).

Kirchneriella obesa (W. West) Schmidle: Similar to K. lunaris but more spherical, 5-6 μm diam. (Illustrations of The Japanese Fresh-water Algae, 1977).

* Kirchneriella obesa Hirose et Akiyama: Colonies within a gelatinous matrix, cells crescent in shape, termini tapered, 25-30 μm long, 8-10 μm wide (Illustrations of The Japanese Fresh-water Algae, 1977).