''Microheliella'' is a monotypic genus of

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 containing the sole species ''M. maris'', first described in 2012. It has a variety of unusual morphological characteristics which make its broader classification difficult. These include a centrosome with two concentric granular shells and

axopodia 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 ...

much simpler in structure than in visually similar protists (other '

heliozoa Heliozoa, commonly known as sun-animalcules, are microbial eukaryotes (protists) with stiff arms ( axopodia) radiating from their spherical bodies, which are responsible for their common name. The axopodia are microtubule-supported projections fro ...

'). Recent phylogenomic analyses suggest the microhelida are sister to the

Cryptista Cryptista is a clade of algae-like eukaryotes. It is most likely related to Archaeplastida which includes plants and many algae, within the larger group Diaphoretickes. Although it has sometimes placed along with Haptista in the group Hacrobia, ...

, forming a clade called Pancryptista, which would be sister to the Archaeplastida.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q64895907 Endohelean genera