Stramenopile

The stramenopiles are a major group of eukaryotes, including the heterokonts and a few close relatives. These are distinguished by having tripartite mastigonemes, or are secondarily derived from forms that do. In addition to the heterokont algae, they include the following:

• Water molds, Hypochytrids - groups superficially similar to fungi
• Bicosoecids - a small group of heterokont flagellates
• Labyrinthulids, Thraustochytrids - small groups similar to slime molds
• Proteromonads, Opalines - small groups of flagellates

The stramenopiles were defined by D.J. Patterson, and were his prototype for rankless taxa. They essentially correspond to the kingdom Chromista defined by Thomas Cavalier-Smith, except that also includes the haptophytes and cryptomonads, on the supposition that they all share a common origin from a colored ancestor.

External addresses

• Tree of Life web project: Stramenopiles
• Systema Naturae 2000 / Details - "Stramenopiles"
• Encyclopedia: Stramenopile
• Jacob Feldman: Stramenopila