Pinguiophyceae is a small group of unicellular marine algae of the Heterokontophyta phylum, composed of five species, characterized by a high concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the cytoplasm. Other common characteristics are the lack of cell wall and the tendency to the loss of flagella, even in the stage of zoospores, which is unusual among the heterocontos. One species, Polypodochrysis teissieri, inhabits benthic strata (sometimes the mucilage of other algae is found) and is capable of producing a shell with one or more tubular necks. The other species live in the plankton.
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