African sleeping sickness is caused by a protozoa with a flagellum, Trypanosoma brucei. There appears to be two subspecies that are dangerous: Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and Trypanocoma brucei rhodesiense. These parasites are spread by the bite of the tsetse fly. Game animals serve as a holding place for this disease. Around 20,000 deaths per year are caused by this disease. Although game animals seem to have defenses against this disease, modern cattle are not immune.

Flagellates (Zoomastigina) contain unicellular animals that have a tail which permits them to move.

Protista kingdom (sometimes spelled as Protoctista) contains numerous phyla including unicellular animals and algae. Generally, these are aquatic life forms. The number of species is difficult to estimate, and it might be as low as 60,000 and as high as 200,000.

There is discussion among scientists as to whether this group of lifeforms should be split into two different kingdoms. One for those that make their own food, and the other for those that eat food. They suggest: Chromista and Protozoa.

Although herein we follow conventional norms and recognize 9 phyla, it has been suggested there might be 50 different phyla herein. These lifeforms have been found as far back as 1.2 billion years ago.

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