Snow algae of the Windmill Islands, continental Antarctica. 2. Chloromonas rubroleosa sp. nov. (Volvocales, Chlorophyta), an alga of red snow

A new, cryophilic species of the Chlamydomonadaceae, Chloromonas rubroleosa, is described from continental Antarctica. The species is characterised by a bimamillate papilla, four contractile vacuoles, numerous small discoid chloroplasts and an abundance of red-pigmented oil droplets. The local distribution of the species and its habitat conditions are described. The cells are susceptible to temperatures above 10°C and, unexpectedly, to subfreezing temperatures. The species has been isolated into pure culture and is currently maintained at the Australian Antarctic Division.