Protists defined by a mitochondrion and associated mass of DNA which are found near the of their flagella.

The most notable kinetoplastids, from a perspective, are members of genus , which is the cause of . Kinetoplastids, though, also cause as well as .

Kinetoplastids also exist a protists as well as parasites of plants and even other protists. They were previously included among what were once described simply as .