A type of protozoan that has whip-like flagella for movement, or any organism that bears whip-like structures. The name literally means 'whip-bearing.'
From Greek 'mastix, mastigos' (whip, scourge) + 'phoros' (bearing), meaning 'whip-bearing.' Used in biological classification to describe single-celled organisms that carry whip-like flagella for locomotion. The term was coined in scientific Latin for taxonomic purposes in the 19th century.
Mastigophore perfectly demonstrates how 'phoros' describes what organisms physically carry - their whips! Just like conifers bear cones and phosphorus bears light, these tiny creatures bear whip-like flagella, showing how the ancient root still helps us name new scientific discoveries.
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