KINGDOM PROTISTA (a kingdom on its way out) - The three major groups of the
traditional Protists are indicated below, however, recent genetic studies have
revealed some startling revelations that have resulted in a number of proposed
classification schemes, yielding as many as 12 kingdoms. Until a newer classification
system is accepted and established, we will go with the classification system below.
ALGAE
All are photosynthetic autotrophs; All except Euglenoids have cell walls
Phylum
# of species
Characteristics
Examples
Euglenophyta
1,000
Unicellular; mostly freshwater n
Euglena
“Euglenoids”
1, 2 or 3 flagella; no known sex
NO CELL WALL, AND SOME SPECIES CAN BE AUTO- OR HETEROTROPHIC!!
very rare!
Chrysophyta 12,000
“Diatoms”
Unicellular; mostly marine
none, 1 or 2 flagella; asexual
Common
That's
Diatoms
Pyrrophyta 1,100
Unicellular; mostly marine
Red Tide
“Dinoflagellates”; "Fire Algae"
none or 2 flagella; sex rare
Bioluminescence
Chlorophyta 7,000
Uni- and multicellular; some marine,
Green
algae; Volvox
“Green Algae”**
mostly freshwater
** Chlorophyta are believed to be evolutionary precursors to plants because they
contain the same pigments, and their cell walls are mostly cellulose. Genetic studies
have supported this theory.
Phaeophyta 1,500
“Brown Algae”
multicellular; sexual reproduction;
Kelp
2 flagella on sex cells only; mostly marine
Rhodophyta 4,000
Source of agar
“Red Algae”
Multicellular; no flagella; mostly marine;
Complex sexual cycle. Pigments allow
photosynthesis at greater depths
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PROTOZOA
“first-animal”
All heterotrophs; all unicellular
Mastigophora
African sleeping
2,500
Flagella; some w/ pseudopods;
Asexual and sexual; mostly parasitic
sickness
Sarcodina
Amoebas
11,500
Pseudopods; some w/ flagella;
Asexual or sexual; mostly free-living;
Some w/ outer shells; 33,000 fossil species
Ciliophora
7,200
Paramecium
(Ciliate protozoans)
Stentor
Opalinida
Sporozoa
Plasmodium
animals;
400
6,000
Cilia; Asexual; genetic exchange
through conjugation; mostly free-living
Asexual or sexual, w/ flagellated sex cells;
Intestinal parasites of lower vertebrates; ciliate
Complex sexual/asexual life cycle;
(Apicomplexans)
parasites of humans and other
(Malaria pathogen)
Includes pathogen of Malaria; no flagella or
cilia
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SLIME MOLDS / WATER MOLDS
All heterotrophs (Some scientists consider them fungi.)
Myxomycota
Acrasiomycota
550
Plasmodial slime molds
- Live on damp, decaying logs
26
Physarum
Cellular slime molds
Oomycota
?
Downy mildews are significant plant pathogens
Phythophthora infestans
(Water Molds)
Pathogen of “Late Blight”, which ravages tomatoes
in the
Pacific Northwest, and was responsible for the infamous
Potato Famine in Ireland.