Question

Is algae a protozoan?

Answer 1

Protozoa is the 3rd largest Phyla of the kingdom Animalia. These are one celled body performing all the biological activities like multicellular animals. The body level of the organisation of Protozoans is Protoplasmic level. Protozoans are small microscopic, eukaryotic unicellular, colourless, spherical, oval, bell shaped, spindle shaped slippers like having irregular symmetry.

Complete answer:
Kingdom plantae is categorized into various phyla namely algae, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms.

Algae are chlorophyll containing simple, thalloid (plant bodies which do not differentiate into root, stem and leaf) and autotrophic organisms.
Main characteristic of Algae include:
1. These are largely aquatic, may be freshwater or marine. Their size is highly variable depending upon species to species.
2. There is no vascular tissue present in them.
3. Their mode of reproduction is either vegetative, asexual and sexual.
4. Algae is further classified into various classes on the basis of pigments present in their body namely chlorophyceae, phaeophyceae, rhodophyceae.

From the above different characteristics mentioned above it is clear that Algae is not a protozoan as protozoa is a phylum of kingdom animalia whereas Algae is a phylum of kingdom plantae.

Note:
In class chlorophyceae the pigments chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotene and xanthophyll are present which gives grass green colour. In class phaeophyceae the pigments chlorophyll a and C, carotenoids and xanthophyll present which gives it brown colour whereas in rhodophycea the pigments present are r-phycoerythrin, r-phycocyanin, chlorophyll-a and chlorophyll-d which impart red colour to them.