INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY - H. I. Shcherbak - 2008

PROTISTS - PROTISTA

PROTOZOA

FLAGELLATES

PHYLUM POLYMASTIGOTA

Polymastigotes are symbionts of various animals. About 150 species are known.

The uninucleate Cells of polymastigotes possess four or more flagella and a type-specific organelle complex, the karyomastigont, which performs cytoskeletal and locomotory Functions. It comprises kinetosomes, an intricate system of flagellar roots, and The Nucleus.

Each Class exhibits polymerization (multiplication) of flagella or the entire karyomastigont. Cell/35.html">Mitochondria are absent. Many parasitic species also lack the Golgi apparatus. They reproduce asexually.

The phylum Polymastigota includes three classes: Diplomonadea, Oxymonadea, and Parabasalea. We will examine only the classes Diplomonadea and Parabasalea, which include species of great medical and veterinary importance.



Last update: 13/08/2026

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