20 Questions
What are protozoan organisms composed of?
One protoplasmic mass
Which type of protozoa has characteristics of both plants and animals?
Mastigophore
What is the locomotory organ of Mastigophore?
Flagellum
Which of the following diseases is caused by Leishmania?
Leishmaniasis
Which protozoan group has organisms with pseudopods?
Sarcodina
What causes Amoebic dysentery?
Entamoeba histolytica
In which environments are protozoa found?
In various environments including fresh and saline water, soil, and hot springs
What forms the pseudopods in Sarcodina?
Protoplasmic extensions
Which protozoan group forms calcareous or siliceous shells?
Foraminiferans
How do Dinoflagellates move?
Using two flagella
What is the general characteristic of protozoa?
Organisms with a single protoplasmic mass
Where are protozoa NOT typically found?
Lava fields
Which of the following distinguishes mastigophores?
Presence of flagella
Which type of protozoa is known for having both plant and animal characteristics?
Mastigophore
What feature do Sarcodina use for locomotion?
Pseudopods
What are the ectoplasm and endoplasm?
Layers within the protoplasm of Sarcodina
What is a defining feature of free-living protozoa?
They do not require a host to survive.
Which protozoan is known to cause Amoebic dysentery?
Entamoeba histolytica
Which group of protozoa is believed by biologists to be closely related to animals?
Mastigophore
Which of the following environments do foraminiferans typically inhabit?
Marine environments
Study Notes
Protozoa
- Protozoa are microscopic organisms that can be either free-living or parasitic, with a single mass of protoplasm making up their bodies.
- Despite their small size, protozoa are complex organisms that perform all the functions of life, which require coordination between multiple organs.
Habitat and Distribution
- Protozoa are found in a wide range of environments, including:
- Fresh and saltwater
- Soil
- Moist areas
- Brackish water, hot springs, and even glacial ice
- Many protozoa live as parasites on invertebrate or vertebrate animals, or on various plants.
Classification
- Protozoa are divided into four main groups based on their mode of locomotion:
- Mastigophora (flagellates)
- Sarcodina (amoebae)
- Ciliophora (ciliates)
- Sporozoa (sporozoans)
Mastigophora (Flagellates)
- Mastigophora are extremely small, possessing both plant-like and animal-like characteristics.
- They are characterized by the presence of a flagellum, a whip-like structure used for movement.
- Unicellular, with a single flagellum emerging from the front of the body (e.g., Euglena)
- Flagellum can be double, with one flagellum wrapping around the body and into specific grooves (e.g., Dinoflagellates)
- Examples of Mastigophora include:
- Leishmania, which causes Leishmaniasis in humans and other vertebrates
- Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes African sleeping sickness
Sarcodina (Amoebae)
- Sarcodina are small, single-celled organisms that can change shape.
- They consist of a protoplasmic mass with:
- An outer, transparent layer called ectoplasm
- An inner layer called endoplasm, which can transform into the other through a process called gel-sol-transformation
- They can form temporary or permanent protrusions called pseudopodia, used for movement.
- Examples of Sarcodina include:
- Entamoeba histolytica, which causes amoebic dysentery in humans
- Free-living Foraminiferans, which live in oceans and form calcium or silica skeletons, contributing to the formation of petroleum-rich sediments.
Protozoa
- Protozoa are microscopic organisms that can be either free-living or parasitic, with a single mass of protoplasm making up their bodies.
- Despite their small size, protozoa are complex organisms that perform all the functions of life, which require coordination between multiple organs.
Habitat and Distribution
- Protozoa are found in a wide range of environments, including:
- Fresh and saltwater
- Soil
- Moist areas
- Brackish water, hot springs, and even glacial ice
- Many protozoa live as parasites on invertebrate or vertebrate animals, or on various plants.
Classification
- Protozoa are divided into four main groups based on their mode of locomotion:
- Mastigophora (flagellates)
- Sarcodina (amoebae)
- Ciliophora (ciliates)
- Sporozoa (sporozoans)
Mastigophora (Flagellates)
- Mastigophora are extremely small, possessing both plant-like and animal-like characteristics.
- They are characterized by the presence of a flagellum, a whip-like structure used for movement.
- Unicellular, with a single flagellum emerging from the front of the body (e.g., Euglena)
- Flagellum can be double, with one flagellum wrapping around the body and into specific grooves (e.g., Dinoflagellates)
- Examples of Mastigophora include:
- Leishmania, which causes Leishmaniasis in humans and other vertebrates
- Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes African sleeping sickness
Sarcodina (Amoebae)
- Sarcodina are small, single-celled organisms that can change shape.
- They consist of a protoplasmic mass with:
- An outer, transparent layer called ectoplasm
- An inner layer called endoplasm, which can transform into the other through a process called gel-sol-transformation
- They can form temporary or permanent protrusions called pseudopodia, used for movement.
- Examples of Sarcodina include:
- Entamoeba histolytica, which causes amoebic dysentery in humans
- Free-living Foraminiferans, which live in oceans and form calcium or silica skeletons, contributing to the formation of petroleum-rich sediments.
Learn about the characteristics of protozoa, including their free-living and parasitic forms, and their habitats in fresh and saltwater, soil, and other regions.
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