What is Haptophyte?
{{Taxobox | name = Haptophytes | image = Coccolithus pelagicus.jpg | image_width = 220px | image_caption = [[Coccolithophore]] (''[[Coccolithus pelagicus]]'') | domain = [[Eukaryota]] | regnum = [[Chromalveolata]] | phylum = '''Haptophyta''' | phylum_authority = Hibberd 1976 | subdivision_ranks = Orders | subdivision = Class Pavlovophyceae<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pavlovales<br /> Class Prymnesiophyceae<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Prymnesiales<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Phaeocystales<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[coccolithophore|Isochrysidales]]<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[coccolithophore|Coccolithales]] }} '''Haptophytes''' are a [[phylum]] of [[algae]], sometimes called the '''Prymnesiophyta'''.<ref>R.A. Anderson. 2004. Biology and systematics of heterokont and haptophyte algae. ''American Journal of Botany'' '''91''': 1508-1522. [http://www.amjbot.org/cgi/content/full/91/10/1508]</ref> All or most of them are single-celled [[photosynthetic]] [[phytoplankton]]. The cells typically have two slightly unequal [[flagella]] and a unique [[organelle]] called a '''haptonema'''. This is superficially similar to a flagellum, but differs in its arrangement of microtubules, and in its use. The name comes from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''hapsis'' = touch, and ''nema'' = thread. == Classification == [[Molecular evolution|Molecular]] and [[Morphology (biology)|morphological]] [[evidence]] places them in five orders; [[coccolith]]ophores make up the ''Isochrysidales'' and ''Coccolithales''. Other groups include phytoplankton which produce the [[toxic]] [[Algae|algal blooms]]. == References == {{Reflist}} [[Category:Algae]] [[Category:Protista]]