| Varisulca | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ancyromonas sp. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| (unranked): | Neokaryotes |
| (unranked): | Opimoda |
| (unranked): | Podiata |
| (unranked): | Varisulca Cavalier-Smith, 2002 |
| Classes | |
Varisulca was a proposed basal podiate taxon. [1] It encompassed several lineages of heterotrophic protists, most notably the ancyromonads (planomonads), collodictyonids (diphylleids), rigifilids (Rigifila, Micronuclearia) and mantamonads. Recent evidence suggests that the latter three are closely related to each other, forming a clade called CRuMs, but that this is unlikely to be specifically related to ancyromonads. [2]
Cavalier-Smith had proposed the new subphylum Varisulca which consists of the classes Hilomonadea, Diphyllatea and Glissodiscea. [3] The validity of this proposed taxonomy has yet to ruled upon by the Society of Protistologists. It is unlikely to be widely accepted, since Varisulca appears to be paraphyletic or polyphyletic (ancyromonads are not inferred to be the sister group to CRuMs). Glissodiscea and Multirhiza (a taxon encompassing Diphyllatea and Glissodiscea) also appear paraphyletic or polyphyletic, since Mantamonas belongs to CRuMs but ancyromonads do not.
Varisulca appear to be paraphyletic stem Podiata. So the other basal Podiata such as Malawimonas, Metamonada and/or Amoebozoa and Amorphea may have emerged in the Varisulca. [4] [5] Some groups of Apusozoa are now considered Varisulca. The Apusomonadida (e.g. Thecamonas) now not directly associated with Varisulca but are considered sister of the opisthokonts. Sulcozoa (originally only Varisulca and Apusozoa) [6] now encompasses the Unikonta/Amorphea and becomes equivalent to (stem) Podiata and Sarcomastigota.[ citation needed ]
Mantamonadida appear to be sister to Apusomonadida in the Apusozoa in some findings. [7] [8]