Stephanopogon

Stephanopogon is a genus of flagellated marine protist that superficially resembles a ciliate.

==Characteristics== Stephanopogon closely resembles certain ciliates and was originally classified with them, but is now considered related to heterolobosean flagellates. The cell is somewhat flattened, with multiple smooth flagella arranged in rows running from the front to the back, and has an anterior mouth supported by rods. They feed on bacteria, diatoms, and other smaller organisms. There are 2-16 nuclei, but they are not differentiated into macronuclei and micronuclei as occurs in ciliates. They have a cosmopolitan distribution.