What is "mastigoneme"

n. One of the lateral "hairs" found covering the flagella of heterokont and cryptophyte algae, believed to assist in locomotion.

Mastigonemes are lateral "hairs" found covering the flagella of heterokont and cryptophyte algae. They are approximately 15 nm in diameter, and usually consist of a tubular shaft that itself terminates in smaller "hairs". It is believed that they assist in locomotion by increasing the surface area of a flagellum.