Classification
Taxonomy
Domain- Eukarya
Kingdom- Red Algae
Phylum- Rhodophyta
Class- Rhodophyceae
Order- Gigartinales
Family- Petrocelidaceae
Genus Mastocarpus
Species- Mastocarpus papillatus
Domain
Mastocarpus papillatus is classified as a Eukaryote
since it
contains a true nucleus and membrane bound organelles.
Kingdom
The kingdom Red Algae contains organisms that are multicellular
and contain the pigment Phycoerithrin.
Phylum
Mastocarpus papillatus is classified as a member of the Rhodophyta
because it contains the photosynthetic pigment, phycoerythrin.
Its cell also lacks flagella and centrioles.
Class
Rhodophyceae is the sole class of the phylum Rhodophyta.
Order
Mastocarpus papillatus is classified as a member of the
Gigartinales since this species is multicellular, marine, and
reproduces sexually. Characteristics of the thallus determine
which family the species belongs too. It is either crustole or
cylindrical, compressed or membranaceous, and branched or
unbrached.
Family
Mastocarpus papillatus belongs to the family
Petrocelidaceace. Mastocarpus was once classified into the family
Gigartinaceae. It is now classified as Petrocelidaceace because it was found that
the crustose alga Petrocelis is actually the tetrasporophyte stage
of Mastocarpus. Before then, the genus was
Gigartina, and it was lumped into the Gigartinales. This
is why the organism is no longer considered to be Gigartina
Papillata which is now considered a synonym of Mastocarpus
papillatus.
Genus
The genus Mastocarpus is separated from the other Genus
based on genetic data.
Species
The species is Mastocarpus papillatus since the female
gametophyte conatins papillae. Papillae are small bumps
present on the blades that resemble nipple like structures.
According to the supergroup method of classification,
Mastocarpus papillatus and other red algae are part of the supergroup
Archaeplastida. Other members of this group include the
Kindgdoms Green Algae and Land Plants.
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