platyproteum platyproteum the platyproteum are a genus of parasitic alveolates in the phylum apicomplexa. species in this genus infect marine invertebrates. platyproteum scientific classification domain: eukaryota (unranked): sar (unranked): alveolata phylum: miozoa subphylum: myzozoa infraphylum: dinozoa class: squirmidea order: squirmida family: platyproteidae genus: platyproteumrueckert & leander 2009 species platyproteum vivax (gunderson & small 1986) rueckert & leander 2009 taxonomy this genus was created in 2009 by sonja reuckert and brian leander. there is one species in this genus - platyproteum vivax. this species was moved from the genus selenidium. it appears to be related to filipodium phascolosomae. description this parasite is tape like. life cycle the parasite infects the gastrointestinal tract and is presumably transmitted by the orofaecal route but the details of this mechanism are presently unknown.