About Aegagropila linnaei Kützing
Marimo, which also goes by the common names Cladophora ball, moss ball, moss ball pet, or lake ball, is a rare growth form of Aegagropila linnaei, a species of filamentous green algae. In this growth form, the algae develop into large green balls with a velvety appearance. This species can be found in a number of lakes and rivers across Japan and Northern Europe. Colonies of marimo balls are known to form in Japan and Iceland, but their overall population has been declining. Marimo prefers to live in lakes with low or moderate biological activity, and moderate to high levels of calcium. The species is primarily found in formerly glaciated areas of Northern Europe, and in several locations across Japan. It has also been recorded in North America, where it is rare, and in Australia. The survival of marimo colonies depends on the species’ adaptation to low light conditions, along with the dynamic interaction of wind-induced currents, light regime, lake morphology, bottom substrate, and sedimentation.
