Zooflagellate

In some older systems of classification, Zoomastigophora is a phylum (more commonly known as zooflagellates) within the kingdom Protista. Organisms within this group have a spherical, elongated body with a single central nucleus. They are single-celled, heterotrophic eukaryotes and may form symbiotic relationships with other organisms, including Trichomonas.[1] Some species are parasitic, causing diseases such as the African Sleeping Sickness, caused by the zooflagellate Trypanosoma brucei.[2] Zooflagellates have one or more flagella but do not have plastids or cell walls.[3]

A few are mutualistic, such as those that live in the guts of termites and aid the bacteria present in breaking down wood.

References

  1. ↑ Zoomastigophora at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
  2. ↑ "Definition: zooflagellate from "A Dictionary of Zoology"".
  3. ↑ Cavalier-Smith, T (1995). "Zooflagellate phylogeny and classification". Tsitologiia. 37 (11): 1010–29. PMID 8868448.


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