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The Ochrophyta are a phylum of phylogenetically related organisms with heterokont motile cells, meaning that they have two flagella of unequal length that are typically attached laterally.
The largest and best known group in the Ochrophyta is the brown algae, aptly named because of the brown pigmentation caused by the presence of xanthophylls like fucoxanthine or flavoxanthine.
The cell wall of the brown algae is poor in cellulose but rich in alginates, a polysaccharide of commercial importance.
Brown algae are also rich in laminarin and manitol, both storage sugars.
Authors: Diego Ruiz, Frauke Ziemmeck.
Other Contributors: Stuart Banks, Margarita Brandt, Rodrigo Bustamante, Angel Chiriboga, Graham Edgar, José Miguel Fariña, Peter Glynn, Jack Grove, Alex Hearn, Cleveland Hickman, Paul Humann, Jerson Moreno, Fernando Pinillos, Fernando Rivera, Franz Smith, Marco Toscano, Mariana Vera, Luis Vinueza.
Names of taxa included: 61 total (55 accepted, 3 unidentified taxon, 3 preliminary identification).
Origin of the taxa included: 18 endemic, 3 indigenous.
Domain Eukaryota
Kingdom Chromalveolata
Division Heterokontophyta
Class Phaeophyceae
Order Desmarestiales
Family Desmarestiaceae
Order Dictyotales
Family Dictyotaceae
Order Ectocarpales
Family Acinetosporaceae
Family Chordariaceae
Family Ectocarpaceae
Family Mesosporaceae
Order Fucales
Family Sargassaceae
Order Laminariales
Family Lessoniaceae
Order Scytosiphonales
Family Chnoosporaceae
Family Scytosiphonaceae
Order Sphacelariales
Family Sphacelariaceae
Order Sporochnales
Family Sporochnaceae
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This list should be cited as follows: