Domain Eukaryota Family Amoebidae Scientific name Amoeba Proteus Higher classification Amoeba | Order Tubulinida Genus Amoeba Rank Species | |
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Similar Amoeba, Paramecium caudatum, Rhizopoda, Euglena viridis, Sarcodina | ||
Amoeba proteus
Amoeba , alternatively Chaos diffluens, is an amoeba closely related to the giant amoebae and a species commonly bought at science supply stores.
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This small protozoan uses tentacular protuberances called pseudopodia to move and phagocytose smaller unicellular organisms,(which may be greater in size than of amoeba), which are enveloped inside the cell's cytoplasm in a food vacuole, where they are slowly broken down by enzymes. Amoeba proteus is very well known for its extending pseudopodia. It occupies freshwater environments and feeds on other protozoans, algae, rotifers, and even other smaller amoebae. Due to phytochromes, A. proteus may appear in a variety of colors (often yellow, green and purple) under a microscope.
A. proteus possesses a nucleus containing granular chromatin, and is therefore a eukaryote. Its membrane is a phospholipid bilayer similar to other Eukaryotic organisms.
Live amoeba proteus showing amoeboid movement
