Diatoms are a type of unicellular algae that belong to the kingdom Protista. They are a diverse group of organisms that includes around 200,000 species.
At the phylum level, diatoms belong to the phylum Bacillariophyta. This is a diverse group of algae that are characterized by their silica cell walls.
At the class level, diatoms belong to the class Bacillariophyceae.
At the order level, diatoms belong to the order Bacillariales.
At the family level, diatoms can be classified into different families based on their morphological features such as the shape, size, and structure of their frustules (cell walls). Some of the common families of diatoms are Naviculaceae, Bacillariaceae, and Fragilariaceae.
At the genus level, diatoms can be further classified into different genera based on their morphological and genetic features. Some of the common genera of diatoms include Cyclotella, Navicula, Thalassiosira, and Pseudonitzschia.
Finally, at the species level, individual diatom species can be classified based on their unique morphological and genetic characteristics. For example, the diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii is one species of diatom that is commonly found in marine environments.