Ochromonadales

Ochromonadales
Light and transmission electron micrographs of Spumella sinechrysos, showing long flagellum (LF), short flagellum (SF) and leucosin vesicle (arrow). Scale bars = 2 μm.
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Clade: Diaphoretickes
Clade: Sar
Clade: Stramenopiles
Phylum: Ochrophyta
Class: Chrysophyceae
Order: Ochromonadales
Pascher 1910
Family: Ochromonadaceae
Lemmermann 1899
Type genus
Ochromonas
Vysotskii 1887
Synonyms
  • Dendromonadaceae Stein 1878
  • Spumellaceae Kent 1880–1881
  • Uroglenaceae Lemmermann 1899
  • Syncryptaceae Poche 1913
  • Protoochromonadaceae Skvortzov 1961

Ochromonadales is an order of single-celled algae belonging to the class Chrysophyceae, also known as golden algae. Initially it contained numerous groups of flagellates that were not closely related. During the late 20th century, advancements in molecular and ultrastructural studies allowed the transfer of many of these groups out of Ochromonadales, and the order was reduced to a single family Ochromonadaceae. They are aquatic single-celled flagellated algae, with two heterokont flagella each, some of which have secondarily lost their chloroplasts and appear colorless.