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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Ciliophora (ciliates)

[= Ciliata]

Life > Eukaryotes > Chromalveolata > Alveolata

Ciliates are a diverse group of single-celled microbes, so called because most species are covered with hairs termed cilia. They are free-living in freshwater and the sea and consume bacteria or nutrient-rich water.

Classification

Intramacronucleata

 
 

Armophorea

 

 
 

Colpodea

Genera: Bresslaua, Bryometopus, Bursaria, Colpoda, Platyophrya, Pseudoplatyophrya, Woodruffia.

 
 

Litostomatea

 

 
 

Nassophorea

Genera: Microthorax, Nassula, Pseudomicrothorax.

 
 

Oligohymenophorea

 

 
 

Phyllopharyngea

Genera:

 
 

Plagiopylea

Genera: Lechriopyla, Plagiopyla, Sonderia, Trimyema.

 
 

Prostomatea

Genera: Coleps, Cryptocaryon, Holophrya, Prorodon, Urotricha.

 
 

Spirotrichea

 

 

Postciliodesmatophora

 
 

Karyorelictea

Genera: Kentrophoros, Loxodes, Trachelocerca.

 
 

Heterotrichea

Genera: Blepharisma, Climacostomum, Folliculina, Stentor.

 

Publications

  • Adl, S.M., Simpson, A.G., Farmer, M.A., Andersen, R.A., Anderson, O.R., Barta, J.R., Bowser, S.S., Brugerolle, G., Fensome, R.A., Fredericq, S., James, T.Y., Karpov, S., Kugrens, P., Krug, J., Lane, C.E., Lewis, L.A., Lodge, J., Lynn, D.H., Mann, D.G., McCourt, R.M., Mendoza, L., Moestrup, Ø., Mozley-Standridge, S.E., Nerad, T.A., Shearer, C.A., Smirnov, A.V., Spiegel, F.W. and Taylor, M.F.J.R. 2005. The new higher level classification of eukaryotes with emphasis on the taxonomy of protists. Eukaryote Microbiology 52(5): 399-451.

Text by Hamish Robertson