Silicoflagellates

Silicoflagellates are tiny, single-celled organisms found in ocean and freshwater environments. They belong to the protist group and are characterized by their delicate, glass-like skeletons made of silica (a mineral similar to glass). These structures often have a star or needle shape and are supported by flagella—whip-like tails that help them move. Silicoflagellates play an important role in the marine food web, serving as food for small marine animals and contributing to the global carbon cycle through their silica shells, which sink and help sequester carbon in the deep ocean.