Protozoa facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Giardia lamblia SEM 8698 lores
Giardia lamblia is a parasitic flagellate protozoan which causes 'beaver fever'.

Protozoa are small (but not simple) organisms. They are single-celled heterotrophic eukaryotes, which eat bacteria and other food sources.

It is an old term, and the wider term protist is generally preferred today. However, 'protozoa' is often used for convenience, especially in junior education. It is a rather convenient hold-all term, but actually 'protozoa' are classified in a number of different phyla.

The term is problematic because modern biochemical and genetic techniques show that it includes several quite different kinds of cells. They are found only in moist or aquatic habitats. Many protozoan species are symbionts, some are parasites, and some are predators of soil bacteria and algae. There are about 30,000 protozoan species.

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Images for kids

  • Mikrofoto.de-Blepharisma japonicum 15

    Blepharisma japonicum, a free-living ciliated protozoan.

  • Giardia muris trophozoite SEM 11643

    Giardia muris, a flagellate protozoan, is an intestinal parasite found in rodents, birds and reptiles.

  • Collection Pénard MHNG Specimen 88-4-4

    Centropyxis aculeata, a testate (shelled) amoeba

  • John Hogg -- Primigenum or Protoctista

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  • Dileptus viridis cyst

    Resting cyst of ciliated protozoan Dileptus viridis.

  • Trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica with ingested erythrocytes

    Trophozoites of the amoebic dysentery pathogen Entamoeba histolytica with ingested human red blood cells (dark circles)


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Protozoa Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.