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Project Noah Nature School
Acetabularia sp.
Believe it or not, this is a very large single-celled organism (about 1.5 cm diameter). The single nucleus is located in the rhizoid (root-like structure). There were many at this location scattered among the other algae and plants.
At the edge of the water near mangroves and oyster reefs. The water was either salt or brackish. Growing alongside Green Feather Algae (https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/89...) and Merman's Shaving Brush (https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/18...)
See this spotting to see a better closeup photo: https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/11... Amazingly, Acetabularia can fully regenerate if the cap is removed, and the stem can regenerate a new cap as well. Even more unbelievable is that the cap from one Acetabularia species can be grafted onto another species.
Spotted on Jan 23, 2020
Submitted on Feb 1, 2020
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