Tetrahymena pyriformis

Phylogenetic information

Nuclear Phylogeny:

The nuclear phylogeny has been studied in detail: Tetrahymena, together with Glaucoma and Colpidium forms a sister taxon to Opisthonecta and Paramecium (see e.g., Leipe DD, Bernhard D, Schlegel M, Sogin ML (1994) Europ. J. Protistol. 30, 354-361).

Mitochondrial Phylogeny:

In mitochondrial phylogenies based on protein sequences, Tetrahymena, Paramecium and Plasmodium form a consistent clade (the alveolates). However, because these mitochondrial sequences are very derived, the divergence point of the alveolates relative to the stramenopiles, bicosoecids and other protists is uncertain.