Domain Eukaryota Scientific name Bicosoecida | Superphylum Heterokonta Rank Order | |
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Class Bikosea
Cavalier-Smith 2013 Similar Sagenista, Hyphochytriomycetes, Opalinidae, Pelagophyceae, Labyrinthulomycetes | ||
The bicosoecids, formally Bicosoecida (ICZN) or Bicosoecales/Bicoecea (ICBN), are a small group of unicellular flagellates, included among the heterokonts. The cells are free-living, with no chloroplasts, and in some genera are encased in a lorica.
The name of the type genus Bicosoeca described by James-Clark in 1866 is derived from Greek roots (bikos, vase, bowl, plus oekein, inhabit). The philologically preferable compound would be Bicoeca, as "corrected" by Stein in 1878 and followed by most subsequent authors. However, according to the ICBN and ICZN, the original spelling of the name cannot be considered incorrect and it must be used in its original form.
The group was formerly considered to be related to the Chrysophyceae.
Some authors use the vernacular term "bicosoecid" (or "bicoecid") in a narrower sense, only for Bicosoeca, aplying "bicoeceans" to Bicosoeca and related groups like Cafeteria.
Classification
With the advent of using molecular phylogenies to resolve relationships of many protists the original circumscription of bicosoecids has been greatly expanded upon to include other orders and the rank has changed from an order to a class.