"astrephomene gubernaculifera" can reproduce sexually or asexually. during asexual reproduction of astrephomene, rotation of daughter protoplasts occurs in conjunction with the movement of basal bodies during successive cell divisions, ending with the anterior end of all cells of the daughter colony outside after the first nuclear and cytoplasmic division. this type of asexual reproduction is unique among the colonial volvocine green algae (pocock 1953). by contrast, in eudorina, protoplast rotation is lacking during successive divisions; a spheroidal colony is formed by means of inversion after successive divisions. "astrephomene gubernaculifera" has two mating types that reproduce to form zygotes.