Which of These Protist Lineages Does NOT Belong to the Supergroup

Question

Which of these protist lineages does NOT belong to the supergroup Excavata?
A) kinetoplastids
B) parabasalids
C) diplomonads
D) diatoms

Accepted Answer

Diatoms belong to the supergroup Chromalveolata, not Excavata. The other groups listed (kinetoplastids, parabasalids, and diplomonads) are part of the Excavata supergroup, which is characterized by its members having a distinctive cellular structure, including a feeding groove "excavated" from one side.