A class of microscopic, single-celled algae with small cell structures and limited visibility to the naked eye, also called cryptomonads.
From Greek 'kryptos' (hidden) + 'phycos' (algae) + '-ae' (Latin plural ending), a taxonomic classification established in the 1800s as microscopy improved.
Cryptophyceae are so tiny and transparent that for centuries they were completely invisible to science, yet they're now known to be crucial parts of ocean food webs feeding millions of fish every day.
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