Cafeteria roenbergensis

Cafeteria roenbergensis is a small bacterivorous marine flagellate. It was discovered by Danish marine ecologist Tom Fenchel and taxonomist David Patterson in 1988. It is in one of three genera of bicoecids, and the first discovered of two known Cafeteria species. Bicosoecids belong to a broad group that also includes opalinids, diatom, brown and golden algae and oomycetes, known as Heterokonta. It is found primarily in coastal waters where there are high concentrations of bacteria on which it grazes. Its voracious appetite plays a significant role in regulating bacteria populations.