Definition
noun
Any of the yellow-green algae comprising the taxonomic class, Xanthophyceae
Supplement
Xanthophytes, also referred to as yellow-green algae. They are lighter in color compared with their closely-related brown algae because they do not have fucoxanthin pigments. Rather, they have xanthophylls and beta carotene. Their chlorophyll pigments are chlorophyll a and c. They are mostly found in fresh water though some species were also found in marine and soil habitats. Their flagella are heterokont. They form zoospores for asexual reproduction. They are also capable of sexual reproduction and it may be isogamous, anisogamous, or oogamous. They store their food as chrysolaminarin and oils. They have many forms; they may be unicellular, colonial, or filamentous.
Xanthophytes belong to the taxonomic class, Xanthophyceae. According to the recent system of algal classification1, the xanthophytes are further subdivided into the following taxonomic orders:
- Mischococcales
- Phyllosiphonales
- Rhizochloridales
- Tribonematales
- Vaucheriales
Some of the currently recognized xanthophyte species are Botrydium argillaceum, Botrydium becherianum, Botrydium corniforme, Botrydium cystosum, Botrydium divisum, Botrydium granulatum, Tribonema bombycina, Tribonema affine, and Vaucheria disperma.
Word origin: Ancient Greek xanthós (“yellow”) + -phyceae
Synonym:
- Tribophyceae
See also:
Reference(s):
1 Encyclopedia of life. (2016). Xanthophyceae. Retrieved from http://www.eol.org/pages/3630/overview.
