Haptophyte
| Haptophytes | |
|---|---|
| Coccolithophore (Coccolithus pelagicus) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | Haptophyta Hibberd 1976
|
| Orders | |
|
Class Pavlovophyceae | |
Haptophytes are a phylum of algae, sometimes called the Prymnesiophyta.[1] All or most of them are single-celled photosynthetic phytoplankton.
The cells typically have two slightly unequal flagella and a unique organelle called a haptonema. This is superficially similar to a flagellum, but differs in its arrangement of microtubules, and in its use. The name comes from the Greek hapsis = touch, and nema = thread.
Classification
Molecular and morphological evidence places them in five orders; coccolithophores make up the Isochrysidales and Coccolithales. Other groups include phytoplankton which produce the toxic algal blooms.