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: 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).

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

31 μm 63 μm 94 μm; x 640

Kirchneriella contorta (Schmidle) Bohlin: Colonies of 4, 8, 16, 32 cells within a gelatinous matrix, Cell body slender cylindrical, curved or spirally twisted, sides nearly parallel, both ends rounded, 8-14 μm long, 1-3 μm wide; a single chloroplast filling the entire cel lbody, usually with one pyrenoids (Photomicrographs of the Freshwater Algae, 1984).

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 acuminata 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).