Spirocuta
Group of flagellates with flexible cells / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Spirocuta (from Latin spira 'coil, spire', and cutis 'skin') is a clade of euglenids, single-celled eukaryotes or protists belonging to the phylum Euglenozoa. They are distinguished from other euglenids by active deformation of their cell shape, a process called euglenid motion or metaboly. This is made possible by a high number of spirally arranged protein strips that run below their cell membrane and confer the cell with flexibility. These strips compose the helicoidal pellicle, a trait referenced by the alternative name Helicales.
Quick Facts Scientific classification, Orders ...
Spirocuta | |
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Cell exhibiting 'euglenoid motion' or metaboly, characteristic of this clade | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Phylum: | Euglenozoa |
Class: | Euglenida |
Clade: | Spirocuta Cavalier-Smith, 2016[1] |
Orders[2][3] | |
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Synonyms | |
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