Halosphaera


Introduction

Halosphaera is a genus of green flagellates. The ca. four species are known only from marine habitats, and are most often seen in colder waters (temperate and boreal zones). The genus belongs to the cluster of ancient green plants called "prasinophytes". Some structural and paleontological evidence suggests great antiquity for the genus and relationships to both the "charophyte" and the "chlorophyte" lines of green plant evolution.


Postulated global eukaryote phylogeny based on presence or (ancestral) absence of mitochondria, and shape of mitochondrial cristae. Halosphaera belongs to the flattened clade.


Postulated phylogenetic position of Halosphaera, inferred from molecular and morphological data. Branch lengths are arbitrary and do not reflect phylogenetic distance.


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