[Taxacom] Picobiliphyta?

[Ken Kinman]

Dear All,
      It seems like there is quite a lot of excitement about a new group of 
marine algae called Picobiliphyta (picobiliphytes).  It may or may not 
really be an entirely new phylum or class (as I will discuss below).

      But first, I have to say that I think this is a REALLY bad name.  I 
immediately thought they must have found a really small (pico-) member of 
the Biliphyta (= Phylum Glaucophyta + Phylum Rhodophyta).  Biliphytes do 
have phycobilins, but they do NOT have nucleomorphs (which these 
"picobiliphytes" do possess).  Presence of a nucleomorph indicates a 
secondary plastid (whereas biliphytes have primary plastids).

      It is more likely that these new algae are either: (1) unusually small 
Cryptophyta, or (2) something new that is convergent with Cryptophyta.  In 
the latter case, something like "Pseudocryptophyta" might be an appropriate 
name.  Either way, the name Picobiliphyta is very misleading.  If they are 
related to cryptophytes (which would not surprise me at all), I wouldn't 
object to the name "Picocryptophyta".  That would be a more accurate name 
and would not be misleading.
   ----Ken Kinman

_________________________________________________________________
Get live scores and news about your team: Add the Live.com Football Page 
www.live.com/?addtemplate=football&icid=T001MSN30A0701