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The ciliates are a group of protists which have hair-like organelles called cilia.

These are are identical in structure to flagella, but typically shorter and in much larger numbers. They have a different pattern of waving than do flagella.

Cilia occur in all members of the group (although the peculiar suctoria have them only for part of the life-cycle). They are used for swimming, crawling, attachment, feeding, and sensation.