Rhizopoda

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Noun

Rhizopoda - creeping protozoans: amoebas and foraminiferssubclass Rhizopodaclass Sarcodina, Sarcodina - characterized by the formation of pseudopods for locomotion and taking food: Actinopoda; Rhizopodarhizopod, rhizopodan - protozoa characterized by a pseudopodAmoebida, Amoebina, order Amoebida, order Amoebina - the animal order including amoebasForaminifera, order Foraminifera - foraminifersorder Testacea, Testacea - testacean rhizopodsclass - (biology) a taxonomic group containing one or more orders

Rhizopoda

a subclass of protozoans capable of forming temporary cytoplasmic protuberances, or pseudopods, which serve for movement and for capturing food (certain amoebas, as well as rhizopod gametes, form temporary flagella). The pseudo-pods may be lobate, filamentous, or radial, and they may undergo anastomosis to form nets.

The rhizopods range in size from a few microns to 3 mm (in extant species; in fossil nummulites, to 5 mm). The body consists of a transparent surface layer, or ectoplasm, and a granular inner layer, or endoplasm. The endoplasm contains a nucleus. There are five orders of Rhizopoda: (1) Amoebida, widely distributed in fresh and marine waters and in the soil (the genus Entamoeba is a parasite in the human and animal intestine); (2) Testacea, inhabitants of fresh waters; (3) Foraminifera, marine, mostly benthic (occasionally pelagic) forms with a complex life cycle that alternates sexual and asexual reproduction; (4) Heliozoa, freshwater; and (5) Radiolaria, found only in the oceans. The shells of rhizopods, which are well preserved in fossil form, are widely used in stratigraphy.

A. A. STRELKOV

Rhizopoda

[ri-zop´ah-dah] a superclass of protozoa comprising the amebae, which move about and acquire food by means of pseudopodia or by protoplasmic flow without production of discrete pseudopodia. The majority are free-living in soil or water, but some are parasitic and pathogenic in humans.

Rhi·zop·o·da

(rī-zop'ō'dă), A superclass in the subphylum Sarcodina that includes the amebae of humans, having pseudopodia of various forms but without axial filaments. Synonym(s): Rhizopodasida, Rhizopodea [rhizo + G. pous (pod-), foot]

Rhi·zop·o·da

(rī-zop'ō-dă) A superclass in the subphylum Sarcodina that includes the amebae of humans, having pseudopodia of various forms but without axial filaments. [rhizo- + G. pous (pod-), foot]

Rhizopoda

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Rhi·zop·o·da

Rhi·zop·o·da

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Synonyms for Rhizopoda

noun creeping protozoans: amoebas and foraminifers

Synonyms

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