also called  Golden-brown Algae,  members of the division Chrysophyta (about 300 species) found in both marine and fresh waters. Diverse in form, although most are primitive single-celled flagellates, they are characterized by the pigment fucoxanthin and oil droplets as the food-reserve. Sexual reproduction is rare; asexual reproduction is by the formation of motile and nonmotile spores and by cell division.