Flagellate

Flagellates (Latin flagellum, whip, scourge " ) are a group of unicellular eukaryotic organisms that have whip -like cell processes. The oldest fossil finds come from the Permian (orders Peridiniina and Coccolithoporida ).

Construction

Flagellates have a single up the eponymous thousands flagella ( flagella ) whose primary function is to locomotion, in addition they can for inducing swirls of food particles and anchoring serve on the substrate. Flagellum is a non- deformable active filamentous protein structure, the origin point is located on the cell membrane and can actively rotate. It determines the front end. By rotating the protein thread can be whip-like moves, which propulsive thrust or train is applied to the aqueous medium.

The cells often have two contractile vacuoles ( pulsating bubbles ) which enlarge rhythmically, thereby absorb fluid from the cytoplasm and then empty it out. This activity is used in excretion ( diuresis, osmoregulation, excretion of catabolites ). Two divisions carried along. In terms of diet, morphology and ecology, however, they are extremely diverse.

Classification

The group was described in 1866 by Karl Moritz Diesing as taxon Mastigophora and even recognized until the late 20th century as such. However, since they proved to be polyphyletic in phylogenetic studies, it is now understood only as an organizational form of single-celled organisms.

Phytoflagellaten

The former group of Phytoflagellaten, the commonality of being capable of photosynthesis with the help of chromatophores, sometimes they have the typical vegetable cellulose wall block and the spare fabric thickness. In this group Chrysamoeba, Euglena, Volvox and dinoflagellates were divided.

Zooflagellaten

This former group had a heterotrophic nutrition together, either by phagocytosis or osmosis or active membrane transport. Among them were Kragenflagellaten, trypanosomes, Trichomonas, Trichonympha (now the Parabasalia / Trichonymphidae assigned ) and Mastigamoebaea (now the Amoebozoa assigned ) counted.

Evidence

• Alternative taxon