Biological process

The process in which a relatively unspecialized myeloid precursor cell acquires the specialized features of a thrombocyte, a nucleated cell found in all vertebrates but mammals involved in hemostasis.

Note that platelets are the non-nucleated mammalian functional equivalent of the nucleated thrombocytes of non-mammalian vertebrates and are sometimes also referred to as thrombocytes. Platelet formation in mammals is covered by the biological_process term platelet formation ; GO:0030220.