pseudopodia

Examples of pseudopodia in the following topics:

• Rhizaria

  • Rhizaria are a supergroup of protists, typically amoebas, that are characterized by the presence of needle-like pseudopodia.
  • The Rhizaria supergroup includes many of the amoebas, most of which have threadlike or needle-like pseudopodia .
  • Pseudopodia function to trap and engulf food particles and to direct movement in rhizarian protists.
  • Foram pseudopodia extend through the pores and allow the forams to move, feed, and gather additional building materials.
  • Ammonia tepida, a Rhizaria species viewed here using phase contrast light microscopy, exhibits many threadlike pseudopodia.

• Amoebozoa and Opisthokonta

  • Amoebozoa are a type of protist that is characterized by the presence of pseudopodia which they use for locomotion and feeding.
  • The amoebozoans are classified as protists with pseudopodia which are used in locomotion and feeding.
  • In addition to the defining pseudopodia, they also lack a shell and do not have a fixed body.
  • The pseudopodia which are characteristically exhibited include extensions which can be tube-like or flat lobes, rather than the hair-like pseudopodia of rhizarian amoeba .
  • Amoebae with tubular and lobe-shaped pseudopodia, such as the ones seen under this microscope, would be morphologically classified as amoebozoans.

• Cell Structure, Metabolism, and Motility

  • Other protists, such at amoebae, form cytoplasmic extensions called pseudopodia anywhere on the cell, anchor the pseudopodia to a surface, and pull themselves forward.
  • (b) An amoeba uses lobe-like pseudopodia to anchor itself to a solid surface and pull itself forward.