Amoeboid Protozoans

Characteristic of this group are the pseudopodia-extensions of the cell body.

The amoebas include Amoeba proteus , and Entamoeba, the cause of a severe form of dysentery. They change shape constantly and move by means of pseudopods. Most are free-living cells that engulf their prey. Some are symbionts in animal guts and a few are opportunistic pathogens.

Foraminiferans are marine with a calcium carbonate shell with thousands of holes through which the threadlike pseudopods extend.

The radiolarians are spherical in shape but have delicate shells of silica.

The heliozoans ("sun animals") also have shells of silica and have needlelike pseudopods that radiate from the spherical body like sun rays.

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