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.[ citation needed]
References
- ^ Zoomastigophora at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
- ^ "Definition: zooflagellate from "A Dictionary of Zoology"".
- ^ Cavalier-Smith, T (1995). "Zooflagellate phylogeny and classification". Tsitologiia. 37 (11): 1010–29. PMID 8868448.
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