| Anisonemidae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Anisonema acinus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Phylum: | Euglenozoa |
| Class: | Euglenida |
| Order: | Anisonemida Cavalier-Smith, 2016 [1] |
| Family: | Anisonemidae Saville Kent, 1880 [2] |
Anisonemidae is a small family of euglenid algae, with two accepted genera. It is the only family in the order Anisonemida. [1]
The family consists of single-celled organisms with a larger posterior flagellum by means of which they are able to glide. They are phagotrophic, meaning that they feed by engulfing particles of food, and are non-photosynthetic. [1]
The family was established by William Saville-Kent in a work published in 1880–1881. [2] [3] Saville-Kent used a much wider circumscription than more recent sources. [3] Historically, phagotrophic euglenids have been treated as animals, and named under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, [1] hence the family name ending "-idae".
As of May 2023 [update] , two genera are accepted: [1]
A third genus, Heteronema Dujardin, 1841, is listed by some sources. [2] The status of the genus is unclear; it appears to be polyphyletic, with some species falling into the order Peranemida and others in Anisonemida. Many of its species have been transferred into Teloprocta , which is placed in Peranemida. [1]