Kingdom Protista
Alveolata
General Characteristics
- Include the dinoflagellates, apicomplexans, and ciliates
- Diverse modes of locomotion
- Presence of flattened vesicles called alveoli which function in membrane transport
Ciliates
- Heterotrophic, unicellular protists
- Cilia (fine beating hairs) aid in locomotion and feeding
- Cilia arranged in longitudinal rows or spirals around the cell and beat in coordinated fashion