A phylum of the subkingdom Protozoa characterized by flagellae, pseudopodia, or both types of locomotory organelles; includes both the flagellates (subphylum Mastigophora) and the amebae (subphylum Sarcodina) in a single large assemblage. [sarco- + G. mastix (mastig-), whip, + phoros, to bear]
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Sar·co·mas·ti·goph·o·ra .sär-(.)kō-.mas-tə-'gäf-ə-rə n pl a phylum of protozoans that includes forms moving by flagella, pseudopodia, or both and that is divided into the subphyla Mastigophora and Sarcodina compare CILIOPHORA
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Sar·co·mas·ti·goph·o·ra (sahr″ko-mas″tĭ-gofґə-rə) [sarco- + Gr. mastix whip + phoros bearing] a phylum comprising protozoa that typically possess an endosome nucleus characterized by a ring of nuclear chromatin around a central chromatin-free region, and are motile by means of flagella, pseudopodia, or both types of locomotor organs. The phylum is sometimes divided into subphyla Mastigophora (the flagellates), Sarcodina (the amebae), and Opalinata (the opalinids).Medical dictionary. 2011.