Silicophycidae (Subclass)

Overview

A Subclass in the Kingdom Chromista.

Taxonomy

The Subclass Silicophycidae is a member of the Class Actinochrysophyceae. Here is the complete "parentage" of Silicophycidae:

Domain: Eukaryota Whittaker & Margulis,1978 - eukaryotes
- Kingdom: Chromista T. Cavalier-Smith, 1981 - Chromists
  - Subkingdom: Chromobiota Cavalier-Smith, 1991
    - Infrakingdom: Heterokonta (Cavalier-Smith, 1986) Cavalier-Smith, 1995 - Heterokonts
      - Phylum: Ochrophyta (Cavalier-Smith, 1986) T. Cavalier-Smith, 1995
        Subphylum: Phaeista Cavalier-Smith, 1995
        Infraphylum: Hypogyrista Cavalier-Smith, 1995
        Superclass: Dictyochia (Haeckel, 1894) Cavalier-Smith, 1993
        Class: Actinochrysophyceae Cavalier-Smith, 1995
        Subclass: Silicophycidae Rothmaler, 1951

The Subclass Silicophycidae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Order (1): Dictyochales

Orders

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Dictyochales

Silicoflagellates are a small group of unicellular algae, found in marine environments. In one stage of their life cycle, they produce a siliceous skeleton, composed of a network of bars and spikes arranged to form an internal basket. These form a small component of marine sediments, and are known as microfossils from as far back as the early Cretaceous. There is one living genus, Dictyocha, with two commonly recognised species. There are also several extinct genera, but their classification is difficult, since skeletons may show diverse forms within each living species. [more]

At least 223 species and subspecies belong to the Order Dictyochales.

More info about the Order Dictyochales may be found here.

Sources

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