Trimastix
| Trimastix | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | |
| (unranked): | |
| Phylum: | |
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| Order: | Trimastigida |
| Family: | Trimastigidae |
| Genus: | Trimastix Kent 1880 |
| Type species | |
| Trimastix marina Kent 1880 | |
| Species | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Trimastix is a genus of excavate protists, the sole occupant of the order Trimastigida. Trimastix are bacterivorous, free living and anaerobic. It was first observed in 1881 by William Kent. There are few known species, and the genus's role in the ecosystem is largely unknown. However, it is known that they generally live in marine environments within the tissues of decaying organisms to maintain an anoxic environment. Much interest in this group is related to its close association with other members of Preaxostyla. These organisms do not have classical mitochondria, and as such, much of the research involving these microbes is aimed at investigating the evolution of mitochondria.
A freshwater flagellate of similar morphology used to be included in this genus as Trimastix pyriformis, but was moved to Paratrimastix in 2015.