Cryptomonads Cryptomonads, the Phylum Cryptophyta, consist of about 200 species that are considered both algae (Order Cryptomonadida) and protozoans (Class Cryptophyceae). They all have biflagellated cells and are phagotrophic, and typically contain photosynthetic pigments chlorophyll a, found in plants, and chlorophyll c and some phycobilipigments, found only in red and blue-green algae. The cells are characterized by two flagella of unequal length extending from an anterior cytopharynx.
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