Taxonomy of protists

A modern non-hierarchical interpretation of the phylogeny of eukaryotes, including protists
(the gray unlabeled line next to Sar represents Telonemia)

A protist (/ˈprtɪst/) is any eukaryotic organism (one with cells containing a nucleus) that is not an animal, plant, or fungus. The protists do not form a natural group, or clade, since they exclude certain eukaryotes with whom they share a common ancestor;[a] but, like algae or invertebrates, the grouping is used for convenience. In some systems of biological classification, such as the popular five-kingdom scheme proposed by Robert Whittaker in 1969, the protists make up a kingdom called Protista, composed of "organisms which are unicellular or unicellular-colonial and which form no tissues".[1][b] In the 21st century, the classification shifted toward a two-kingdom system of protists: Chromista (containing the chromalveolate, rhizarian and hacrobian groups) and Protozoa (containing excavates and all protists more closely related to animals and fungi).[2]

The following groups contain protists. The clade Opisthokonta also contains the animals and the fungi, and the kingdom Archaeplastida also contains algae and plants.

Symbols and abbreviations used:

nom. cons. — Indicates a conserved name, a name which has been chosen for a taxon despite not being the priority name.
ICZN/ICN — Indicates an ambiregnal taxon that is accepted in both the zoological and the botanical codes of nomenclature, regulated by the ICZN and the ICN respectively.
(P) — Indicates a paraphyletic taxon.
† — Indicates an extinct taxon.
? — Indicates a taxon of uncertain taxonomic position, which may be the case for various reasons, including a lack of genetic data.
→ — Indicates a monotypic relationship.

Current classification

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This article largely follows the efforts of the scientific community and the International Society of Protistologists to revise the taxonomy of protists in a manner that reflects their phylogeny and evolution, striving away from the use of historical paraphyletic taxa and relying exclusively on clades as the basis of the classification. The reference used for the general arrangement of groups is the publication Revisions to the Classification, Nomenclature and Diversity of Eukaryotes, published in 2019 by researcher Sina Adl and coauthors.[3] Other studies are used for some specific groups of protists that have been revised after 2018, such as slime moulds,[4] glaucophyte algae,[5] arcellinid testate amoebae[6] and planktonic foraminifera.[7] The usage of higher-level taxon ranks (phylum and kingdom) is unstable, as it varies from one author to the next;[8][9] as such, said ranks are generally omitted.

The following cladogram shows the relationships between the major groups of protists, as well as the kingdoms of animals, plants and fungi, according to the most recent phylogenetic analyses.[10][11][12][13][14][15]

Eukaryota
Choanozoa (P)
sensu Cavalier-Smith

Amorphea Adl et al. 2012

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Obazoa Brown et al. 2013

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Cladogram of Obazoa based on several analyses.[13][16] It includes the earliest diverging 'fungi' (microsporidians, aphelids and rozellids), which are only sometimes considered protists under the name of Opisthosporidia.[17]

Opisthokonta Cavalier-Smith 1987 emend. Adl et al. 2005

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Phylum Amoebozoa Lühe 1913, sensu Cavalier-Smith 1998

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Cladogram of Amoebozoa based on an 824-gene phylogenetic analysis published in 2022.[28]

Class Tubulinea Smirnov et al. 2005

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Evosea Kang et al. 2017

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Class Discosea Cavalier-Smith et al. 2004 sensu Smirnov et al. 2011

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Diaphoretickes Adl et al. 2012

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  • Order Microhelida Cavalier-Smith & Chao in Yabuki et al. 2012 → family Microheliellidae Cavalier-Smith & Chao in Yabuki et al. 2012. Sole genus: Microheliella Cavalier-Smith & Chao in Yabuki et al. 2012.[l]
  • Phylum Telonemia[m] Shalchian-Tabrizi 2006 → class Telonemea Cavalier-Smith 1993 → order Telonemida Cavalier-Smith 1993 → family Telonemidae Cavalier-Smith 1993. Genera: Arpakorses Tikhonenkov & Karpov 2022;[48] Lateronema Cavalier-Smith 2015; Telonema Griessmann 1913.

Archaeplastida Adl et al. 2005

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  • Division Glaucophyta Skuja 1954 (=Glaucocystaceae West 1904, Glaucocystophyta Kies and Kremer 1986, Glaucoplantae Marin & Melkonian in Li et al. 2020). Incertae sedis genera: Archaeopsis, Chalarodora, Glaucocystopsis, Peliaina, Strobilomonas.[5]
  • Phylum Picozoa Seenivasan, Sausen, Medlin & Melkonian 2013 (=picobiliphytes Not et al. 2007) → class Picomonadea Seenivasan, Sausen, Medlin & Melkonian 2013 → order Picomonadida Seenivasan, Sausen, Medlin & Melkonian 2013 → family Picomonadidae Seenivasan, Sausen, Medlin & Melkonian 2013. Sole genus: Picomonas Seenivasan, Sausen, Medlin & Melkonian 2013.[n]
  • Phylum Rhodelphidia Tikhonenkov, Gawryluk, Mylnikov & Keeling 2019 → class Rhodelphidea Tikhonenkov, Gawryluk, Mylnikov & Keeling 2019 → order Rhodelphida Tikhonenkov, Gawryluk, Mylnikov & Keeling 2019 → family Rhodelphidae Tikhonenkov, Gawryluk, Mylnikov & Keeling 2019. Sole genus: Rhodelphis Tikhonenkov, Gawryluk, Mylnikov & Keeling 2019.[50]
  • Division Rhodophyta Wettstein 1901 (=Rhodophyceae Thuret 1855, emend. Rabenhorst 1863, Rhodoplantae Saunders and Hommersand 2004 emend. Adl et al. 2005)

Chloroplastida Adl et al. 2006

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Stramenopiles Patterson 1989, emend. Adl et al. 2005

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  • Class Platysulcea Cavalier-Smith 2018 → order Platysulcida Cavalier-Smith 2018 → family Platysulcidae Shiratori, Nakayama & Ishida 2015. Sole genus: Platysulcus Shiratori, Nakayama & Ishida 2015.
  • Family Kaonashiidae Weston, Eglit & Simpson 2023. Sole genus: Kaonashia Weston, Eglit & Simpson 2023.[64]

Phylum Bigyra Cavalier-Smith 1998 emend. 2006

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  • Subphylum Opalozoa Cavalier Smith 1991 emend. 2006
    • Infraphylum Placidozoa Cavalier-Smith 2013
      • Class Placididea Moriya, Nakayama & Inouye 2002 → order Placidida Moriya, Nakayama & Inouye 2002 → family Placididae Moriya, Nakayama & Inouye 2002. Genera: Allegra Rybarski & Arndt 2021; Haloplacidia Rybarski, Nitsche & Arndt 2021; Pendulomonas S.M.Tong 1997; Placidia Moriya, Nakayama & Inouye 2002; Placilonga Rybarski & Arndt 2021; Suigetsumonas Okamura & Kondo 2015; Wobblia Moriya, Nakayama & Inouye 2000.[65]
      • Class Nanomonadea Cavalier-Smith in Cavalier-Smith & Scoble 2013 (=clade MAST-3) → order Uniciliatida Cavalier-Smith in Cavalier-Smith & Scoble 2013
      • Class Opalomonadea Cavalier-Smith 2013 (=clade MAST-12). No described species.
      • Superclass Opalinata Wenyon 1926 emend. Cavalier-Smith 1997
    • Infraphylum Bikosea Cavalier-Smith 2018 (=Bicosoecida Grassé 1926 emend. Karpov 1998) → class Bikosea Cavalier-Smith 1986 as "Bicosoecea" orth. em. 2013. Genera not assigned to families: Bilabrum Schoenle & Arndt in Schoenle et al. 2020;[67] Cafileria Jirsová, Füssy, Richtová, Gruber, & Oborník 2019;[68] Cantina Yubuki et al. 2015.
      • Family Pseudobodonidae? Cavalier-Smith in Cavalier-Smith & Scoble 2013. Sole genus: Pseudobodo Griessmann 1913.[69]
      • Subclass Rictidia Cavalier-Smith in Cavalier-Smith & Scoble 2013 → order Rictida Cavalier-Smith in Cavalier-Smith & Scoble 2013 → family Rictidae Cavalier-Smith in Cavalier-Smith & Scoble 2013. Sole genus: Rictus Yubuki, Leander & Silberman 2010.
      • Subclass BicosidiaICZN/BicosoecophycidaeICN Cavalier-Smith in Cavalier-Smith & Chao 2006
        • Superorder Borokiae Cavalier-Smith in Cavalier-Smith & Chao 2006 → order BorokidaICZN/BorokalesICN Cavalier-Smith in Cavalier-Smith & Chao 2006 → family BorokidaeICZN/BorokaceaeICN Cavalier-Smith in Cavalier-Smith & Chao 2006. Sole genus: Boroka Cavalier-Smith in Cavalier-Smith & Chao 2006.
        • Superorder Cyathobodoniae Cavalier-Smith 1993 emend. 2006. Incertae sedis genus: Halocafeteria Park, Cho & Simpson 2006.[67]
          • Order AnoecidaICZN/AnoecalesICN Cavalier-Smith 1997[o]
            • Family AnoecidaeICZN/AnoecaceaeICN Cavalier-Smith in Cavalier-Smith & Chao 2006. Sole genus: Anoeca Cavalier-Smith in Cavalier-Smith & Chao 2006.
            • Family CaecitellidaeICZN/CaecitellaceaeICN Cavalier-Smith in Cavalier-Smith & Chao 2006. Sole genus: Caecitellus Patterson et al. 1993.
            • Family CafeteriidaeICZN/CafeteriaceaeICN Moestrup 1995. Sole genus: Cafeteria Fenchel & Patterson 1988.
            • Family Symbiomonadaceae Cavalier-Smith in Cavalier-Smith & Chao 2006. Sole genus: Symbiomonas Guillou & Chretiennot-Dinet 1999.
          • Order BicoecidaICZN/BicoecalesICN Grassé 1926
          • Order PseudodendromonadidaICZN/PseudodendromonadalesICN Hibberd 1985 emend. Cavalier-Smith 2006.
            • Family PseudodendromonadidaeICZN/PseudodendromonadaceaeICN Karpov 2000. Genera: Cyathobodo Petersen & Hansen 1961; Pseudodendromonas Bourrelly 1953.
            • Family SiluaniidaeICZN/SiluaniaceaeICN Karpov 1998. Genera: Adriamonas Verhagen, Zölffel, Brugerolle & D.J.Patterson 1994; Siluania Karpov 1998; Otto Harder, Ekelund & Karpov 2014; Regin Harder, Ekelund & Karpov 2014.[70]
            • Family ParamonadidaeICZN/ParamonadaceaeICN Kent 1880. Sole genus: Paramonas Kent 1881.
            • Family NanidaeICZN/NanaceaeICN Cavalier-Smith in Cavalier-Smith & Scoble 2013. Sole genus: Nanum Kim et al. 2010 as "Nanos".
            • Family NeradidaeICZN/NeradaceaeICN Cavalier-Smith in Cavalier-Smith & Chao 2006. Sole genus: Nerada Cavalier-Smith in Cavalier-Smith & Chao 2006.
            • Family FilidaeICZN/FilaceaeICN Cavalier-Smith in Cavalier-Smith & Scoble 2013. Sole genus: Filos Kim et al. 2010.
  • Subphylum Sagenista Cavalier-Smith 1995
    • Class Labyrinthulomycetes Arx 1970 ex Dick 2001 (=Labyrinthulea L.S.Olive 1975 ex Cavalier-Smith 1989, 'phylum' LabyrinthomorphaICZN Page in Levine et al. 1980/LabyrinthulomycotaICN Whittaker 1969)[71]
      • Order Amphitremida (Poche 1913) Gomaa et al. 2013
      • Order Amphifilida Cavalier-Smith in Anderson & Cavalier-Smith 2012 as "Amphifiloidea"
        • Family Amphifilidae Cavalier-Smith in Anderson & Cavalier-Smith 2012. Sole genus: Amphifila Cavalier-Smith in Anderson & Cavalier-Smith 2012.
        • Family Sorodiplophryidae Cavalier-Smith in Anderson & Cavalier-Smith 2012. Genera: Fibrophrys Takahashi, Yoshida, Inouye & Watanabe 2016; Sorodiplophrys Cienkowski 1876.
      • Order OblongichytridaICZN/OblongichytrialesICN Bennett et al. 2017 → family OblongichytriidaeICZN/OblongichytriaceaeICN Cavalier-Smith in Anderson & Cavalier-Smith 2012. Sole genus: Oblongichytrium R.Yokoyama & D.Honda 2006.
      • Order LabyrinthulidaICZN Doffein 1901/LabyrinthulalesICN E.A.Bessey 1950
        • Family AplanochytriidaeICZN/AplanochytriaceaeICN Leander ex Cavalier-Smith in Anderson & Cavalier-Smith 2012. Sole genus: Aplanochytrium Bahnweg & Sparrow 1972 emend. C.A.Leander & D.Porter 2000 (=Labyrinthuloides F.O.Perkins 1973).
        • Family LabyrinthulidaeICZN Cienkowski 1867/LabyrinthulaceaeICN Haeckel 1868. Sole genus: Labyrinthula Cienkowski 1864 (=Chlamydomyxa Archer 1875, Pseudoplasmodium Molisch 1926, Labyrinthodictyon Valkanov 1969, Labyrinthorhiza Chadefaud 1956).
        • Family-level clade "StellarchytriidaeICZN/StellarchytriaceaeICN". Sole genus: Stellarchytrium FioRito & Leander 2016.
      • Order ThraustochytridaICZN/ThraustochytrialesICN Sparrow 1943
    • Class Eogyrea Cavalier-Smith 2013 (=clade MAST-6). Genera not assigned to families: Mastreximonas Lax, Cho & Keeling 2024; Vomastromonas Tikhonenkov, Prokina, Cho & Keeling 2024.[73]

Phylum Gyrista Cavalier-Smith 1998

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Alveolata Cavalier-Smith 1991

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Cladogram of Alveolata, based on a SSU rDNA phylogeny of basal alveolates[96] and a 203-gene phylogeny of apicomplexans and their relatives[97] published in 2023.
  • Colponemida(P) Cavalier-Smith 1993 emend. Adl et al. 2019 (=Protalveolata Cavalier-Smith 1991 emend. 2017. Genera not assigned to families: Neocolponema Gigeroff et al. 2023; Loeffela Gigeroff et al. 2023[96]
    • Phylum[s] Colponemidia Tikhonenkov et al. 2014 → class Colponemea Cavalier-Smith 1993 → order Colponemida Cavalier-Smith 1993 → family Colponemidae Cavalier-Smith & Chao 2004. Sole genus: Colponema Stein 1878.
    • Phylum[s] Acavomonidia Tikhonenkov et al. 2014 → class Acavomonea Tikhonenkov et al. 2014 → order Acavomonida Tikhonenkov et al. 2014 → family Acavomonidae Tikhonenkov et al. 2014. Acavomonas Tikhonenkov et al. 2014.
    • Order Palustrimonadida Cavalier-Smith 2017 → family Palustrimonadidae Cavalier-Smith 2017. Sole genus: Palustrimonas Patterson & Simpson 1996.

Myzozoa Cavalier-Smith & Chao 2004

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Phylum Ciliophora Doflein 1901

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