ciliata
Ciliates, or Ciliophora, are a diverse group of single-celled eukaryotes distinguished by the presence of cilia at some stage of their life cycle. These hairlike structures are used for locomotion and for directing food toward the oral region. A hallmark of ciliates is nuclear dimorphism: a micronucleus that handles genetic continuity and a macronucleus that governs everyday metabolism and cellular functions. The cell surface is often reinforced by a pellicle and underlying alveolar sacs, giving structural stability.
Anatomy and reproduction: Ciliates typically possess an organized oral apparatus that includes a cytostome and a
Ecology and feeding: Ciliates are found in freshwater, marine, and moist soil environments, where they play
Taxonomy and significance: Modern classifications place ciliates in the phylum Ciliophora within the supergroup Alveolata. Genera