who coined the term "Protista"?

Options

A. John Ray
B. Carolus Linnaeus
C. Ernst Haeckel
D. Julian Huxley

Answer

To answer the question "Who coined the term 'Protista'?", we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Term 'Protista'**:
- The term 'Protista' refers to a group of eukaryotic organisms that are primarily unicellular and can be found in various environments, especially aquatic ones.

2. **Historical Context**:
- The classification of living organisms has evolved over time, and various scientists have contributed to this field.

3. **Identifying the Scientist**:
- The term 'Protista' was coined by **Ernest Haeckel** in the year **1866**. Haeckel proposed this classification to group together certain simple organisms that did not fit into the existing categories of plants and animals.

4. **Significance of Haeckel's Contribution**:
- Haeckel's classification helped in understanding the diversity of life forms and laid the groundwork for further studies in biology, particularly in the field of microbiology and protistology.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the correct answer to the question is **Ernest Haeckel**.

### Final Answer:
The term "Protista" was coined by **Ernest Haeckel** in 1866.

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