''Massisteria'' is a genus of

Cercozoa Cercozoa is a phylum of diverse single-celled eukaryotes. They lack shared morphological characteristics at the microscopic level, and are instead defined by molecular phylogenies of rRNA and actin or polyubiquitin. They were the first major eu ...

. They are naked

protist A protist () is any eukaryotic organism (that is, an organism whose cells contain a cell nucleus) that is not an animal, plant, or fungus. While it is likely that protists share a common ancestor (the last eukaryotic common ancestor), the exc ...

s with a central

cell body The soma (pl. ''somata'' or ''somas''), perikaryon (pl. ''perikarya''), neurocyton, or cell body is the bulbous, non-process portion of a neuron or other brain cell type, containing the cell nucleus. The word 'soma' comes from the Greek '' σῶμ ...

from which several delicately thin and stiff

pseudopodia A pseudopod or pseudopodium (plural: pseudopods or pseudopodia) is a temporary arm-like projection of a eukaryotic cell membrane that is emerged in the direction of movement. Filled with cytoplasm, pseudopodia primarily consist of actin filament ...

extend, each one bearing a small number of granules. Their

remain adhered to the substrate, as is typical among

leucodictyid Granofilosea is a class of cercozoans in the subphylum Filosa. Three groups that were traditionally considered heliozoans belong here: the Heliomonadida, Desmothoracida and Gymnosphaerida, which were recently grouped into the new class of Gran ...

s. The cell body has two

flagella A flagellum (; ) is a hairlike appendage that protrudes from certain plant and animal sperm cells, and from a wide range of microorganisms to provide motility. Many protists with flagella are termed as flagellates. A microorganism may have f ...

that, during feeding, are held in place.

Taxonomy

The genus has two described species: *''

Massisteria marina ''Massisteria marina'' is a species of small marine phagotrophic protists that normally feed on bacteria. Individuals live associated with sediment particles and suspended detritus in litoral or marine waters. It is found at marine sites all aroun ...

'' *'' Massisteria voersi''

References

Sarcomonadea Cercozoa genera {{Cercozoa-stub