Protista ( Kingdom )


Pronunciation key

( prō-tistə )

[< Gr. prōtistos first < prōtos first].

pro•tist n. (prōtist).

A single cell organism.

pro•tist•a n.

A scientific classification, kingdom.

pro•tist•an (prō-tistən) adj.

Of the protists or belonging to protists. n., a protist.

pro•tis•tic (prō-tistik) adj.

of the protists.

"Eucaryotic unicellular organisms in which the cells are sometimes aggregated into filaments or other superficially multi-cellular bodies. Their modes of nutrition include ingestion, photosynthesis, and sometimes absorption. True sexuality is present in some phyla. They move 9-plus-2 flagella or are nonmotile."
Biology of Plants, Fourth Edition, Worth Publishers Inc., Stanford University, Peter H. Raven and Helena Curtis, ©1971

Those who still use Kingdom Protista are referring to the traditional broad grouping based upon the work of Whittaker in Science 163: 150-160 in which organisms are divided into five major groups, or kingdoms:

  • Monera
  • Protista
  • Animalia
  • Fungi
  • Plantae

Cavalier-Smith (1998) divides Protista into two separate Kingdoms (Protozoa and Chromista), both of which contain colorless and pigmented forms and are currently recognized by itis.gov for its current standing on classification system.

References

  • Biology of Plants, Fourth Edition, Worth Publishers Inc., Stanford University, Peter H. Raven and Helena Curtis, ©1971
  • Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language (College Edition) ©1955
  • Protista, Sat Dec 18 14:43:51 CST 2010
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