Stramenopile
The stramenopiles are a major group of eukaryotes, including the heterokonts and a few close relatives. These are distinguished by having tripartite mastigonemes, or are secondarily derived from forms that do. In addition to the heterokont algae, they include the following:
- Water molds, Hypochytrids - groups superficially similar to fungi
- Bicosoecids - a small group of heterokont flagellates
- Labyrinthulids, Thraustochytrids - small groups similar to slime molds
- Proteromonads, Opalines - small groups of flagellates
The stramenopiles were defined by D.J. Patterson, and were his prototype for rankless taxa. They essentially correspond to the kingdom
Chromista defined by Thomas Cavalier-Smith, except that also includes the
haptophytes and
cryptomonads, on the supposition that they all share a common origin from a colored ancestor.
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