Protista Phyla

Phylum Ciliophora

Description: Ciliates, or members of phylum Ciliophora, are typically characterized by their abundance of the hair-like organelles known as cilia, which are similar to flagella and facilitate movement of organisms. Ciliates use cilia to swim, crawl, attach to various surfaces, feed, and feel their environment. Their unique reliance on cilia distinguish them from other phyla of protists. Ciliates also tend to be quite large, approaching 2 mm in length, which is very big for a protist.

Type: Ciliates are animal-like protist, as they digest organic compounds from the environment.

Example:

Stentor roeseli is a member of the well known genus Stentor, which contains some of the biggest unicellular organisms. It possesses many cilia around the opening of its "bell" at the top of the organism.

Picture taken from: wikipedia.org



Phylum Rhodophyta

Description: Phylum Rhodophyta makes up one of the oldest groups of algae known to man, and contains within it not just algae, but many seaweeds as well. The phylum is distinguished by its lack of flagella and centrioles, and its use of phycobiliproteins as an accessory pigment, which gives it a reddish tinge that has caused people to call it "red algae". Members of rhodophyta possess chloroplasts, but their thylakoids are not stacked in grana like those of plants. Rhodophyta are macroscopic, and reproduce sexually by fusion of diploid cells.

Type: Rhodophytes are plant-like protists that possess chloroplasts and are autotrophic.

Example:

Palmaria palmata, or dulse, is a red algae eaten by many people in coastal communities and nations, and is a very healthy source of protein


Picture taken from: wikipedia.org






Phylum Chlorophyta

Description: Members of phylum Chlorophyta are considered part of a larger group known as green algae, which contain green pigments like land plants and undergo photosynthesis. Chlorophytic protists possess both chlorophyll a and b, and are generally found in bodies of fresh water. Of note is their ability to live symbiotically with other organisms: some chlorophytes form unions with fungi to produce lichens, and others live within other protists like parameciums.

Type: Chlorophytes are plant-like protists that possess chloroplasts and are autotrophic.

Example: 

Chlamydomonas nivalis, a type of chlorophyte that forms a phenomenum called "watermelon snow" in which its secondary carotenoid pigment turns falling snow a pinkish red color that smells of watermelon.



Picture taken from: wikipedia.org