| Synchroma | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Diaphoretickes |
| Clade: | SAR |
| Clade: | Stramenopiles |
| Phylum: | Gyrista |
| Subphylum: | Ochrophytina |
| Class: | Picophagea |
| Order: | Synchromales Schnetter & Ehlers in Horn et al., 2007 |
| Family: | Synchromaceae Schnetter & Ehlers in Horn et al., 2007 |
| Genus: | Synchroma Schnetter in Horn et al., 2007[1] |
| Type species | |
| Synchroma grande Schnetter in Horn et al., 2007
| |
| Species[2] | |
| Diversity | |
| 2 species | |
Synchroma (from Greek syn- 'with, together' and chroma 'color') is a genus of marine stramenopile algae containing two species with amoeboid morphology. They are grouped within the monotypic family Synchromaceae and order Synchromales as part of an independent clade of ochrophytes known as Picophagea or Synchromophyceae.
They are distinguished by their plastid complexes, composed of several chloroplasts grouped together and collectively enveloped by the same membranes. Within their life cycle, Synchroma cells are usually sessile and protected by a lorica. These cells can join their reticulopodia in a network known as meroplasmodium, or they can become migrating amoebae capable of fusing to each other.