Cyanophora paradoxa is a freshwater species of Glaucophyte that is used as a model organism.

[3] Cyanelles are unusual organelles in that they retain a rudimentary peptidoglycan wall.

[5] The cyanelle genome of C. paradoxa strain LB 555 was sequenced and published in 1995.

[7] Cyanophora paradoxa is a unicellular organism with two flagella, attached near the tip of the cell.

The cell body is about 7-15 μm long by 3-6 μm wide; it is roughly ovoid (egg-shaped) in shape, and is covered in ridges that outline triangular or crescent-shaped "fenestrations".