Definition
A taxonomic group belonging to Subphylum Mastigophora, and includes photosynthetic or plant-like flagellate protozoans.
Supplement
This class consists of the following subgroups:
- Chloromonadida
- Chrysomonadida
- Coccolithophorida
- Cryptomonadida
- Dinoflagellida
- Ebriida
- Euglenida
- Heterochlorida
- Silicoflagellida
- Volvocida
Word origin: Greek: phytón, a plant + mastīgophóros, whip-bearing.
See also: protozoa.