protoheterotrichida protoheterotrichida protoheterotrichida is an order of karyorelict ciliates. it contains the family geleiidae. protoheterotrichida scientific classification domain: eukaryota clade: diaphoretickes clade: sar clade: alveolata phylum: ciliophora subphylum: postciliodesmatophora class: karyorelictea order: protoheterotrichidanouzarède, 1977 families geleiidae synonyms aveliidae the term protoheterotrichida derives from the three ancient greek words πρῶτος (prôtos), meaning "first, earliest, most prominent", ἕτερος (héteros), meaning "another, different", and θρίξ, τριχός (thríx, trikhós), meaning "hair", in reference to the potential evolutionary affinities of these ciliates with the heterotrichs.