Amoeba proteus

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Amoeba

Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Protista
Subkingdom: Sarcomastigota
Division: Lobosea
Phylum: Amoebozoa
Subphylum: Protamoebae
Order: Euamoebida
Family: Amoebidae
Genus: Amoeba
Species: A. proteus
Binomial name
Amoeba proteus

Amoeba proteus, previously Chaos diffluens, is an amoeba closely related to the giant amoebae. It belongs to the Rhizopoda, more specifically to the Phylum Sarcodina. This small protozoan uses tentacular protuberances called pseudopodia to move and phagocytosize smaller unicellular organisms, which are enveloped inside the cell's cytoplasm in a food vacuole, where they are slowly broken down by enzymes. A. proteus possesses a nucleus containing granular chromatin, and is therefore an eukaryote.

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Amoeba

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