Cafeteria (bicosoecid)

taxobox
color = khaki
name="Cafeteria"


image_caption = "Cafeteria roenbergensis"
domain = Eukaryota
regnum = Chromista
subregnum = Chromobiota
infraregnum = Heterokonta
phylum = Opalozoa
subphylum = Sagenista
classis = Bicosoecophyceae
ordo = Bicosoecales
familia = Cafeteriaceae
genus = "Cafeteria"
genus_authority = Fenchel & Patterson, 1988

"Cafeteria" is a genus of marine bicosoecid described in 1988 by Fenchel and D.J. Patterson. It was created after the discovery of a new species Cafeteria roenbergensis, a tiny (5-10µm) eukaryotic organism that is eaten by protozoa and small invertebrates. The name is meant to indicate the importance of the genus in the food web.

References

[http://www.eol.org/taxa/16222828 Encyclopedia of Life]