Метамонады: группа раскопающих протистов и их классификация.

Phylum of excavate protists
an explanation of very similar terms
Automatic taxobox
| image = Giardia lamblia. jpg
| image alt = "Giardia lamblia", a parasitic diplomonad
| image caption = Giardia lamblia, a parasitic diplomonad
| taxon = Metamonada
| authority = Grassé 1952 emend. Cavalier Smith 2003
| display parents = 2
| subdivision ranks = Classes & orders
| subdivision =
Anaeramoebidae
Parabasalia
Trichonymphea
Trichomonadea
Anaeromonada
Anaeromonadea
Fornicata
Carpediemonadida
Retortamonadida
Diplomonadida
| synonyms ref =

A number of parabasalids and oxymonads are found in termite guts, and play an important role in breaking down the cellulose found in wood. Some other metamonads are parasites. These flagellates are unusual in lacking mitochondria. Originally they were considered among the most primitive eukaryotes, diverging from the others before mitochondria appeared. However, they are now known to have lost mitochondria secondarily, and retain both organelles and nuclear genes derived from them. Mitochondrial relics include hydrogenosomes, which produce hydrogen, and small structures called mitosomes. It now appears the Metamonada are, together with Malawimonas, sister clades of the Podiata. All of these groups are united by having flagella or basal bodies in characteristic groups of four, which are often associated with the nucleus, forming a structure called a karyomastigont. In addition, the genera Carpediemonas and Trimastix are now known to be close relatives of the retortamonad diplomonad line and the oxymonads, respectively. Both are free living and amitochondriate.