choanoflagellate


cho·a·no·mas·ti·gote

(kō'an-ō-mas'tī-gōt), A term, in the series used to describe developmental stages of the parasitic flagellates, denoting the "barleycorn" form of the flagellate in the genus Crithidia characterized by a collarlike extension surrounding the anterior and through which the single flagellum emerges.
See also: amastigote, epimastigote, promastigote, trypomastigote. Synonym(s): choanoflagellate, collared flagellate [G. choanē, a funnel, + mastix, whip]

choanoflagellate

or

collar flagellate

any stalked protozoan that occurs either singly or in branching colonies, possessing a FLAGELLUM surrounded by a cup-like structure into which food particles are wafted by flagellar movement. They are very similar to CHOANOCYTE cells.