Animal-Like Protists
Evolutionary Milestones
Protists are the first to be eukaryotes.
Habitat
Many zooflagellates form a symbiotic or mutualistic relationship with an animal. Sarcodines live in moist places, and form cysts in extreme conditions. Ciliates live in aquatic environments. Sporozoans pass from one host cell to another and are found in intestines and blood.
Anatomical/Structural Features
Animal-like protists have a nucleus but lack a cell wall. Sarcodines have a food vacuole and many have shells.
Symmetry
Animal-like protists have no symmetry.
How They Acquire Nutrients
Animal-like protists are heterotrophs and can be pathogens, parasites, or predators.
What They Eat
Animal-like protists mainly eat bacteria, but sometimes they eat other protozoa and fungi. Sporozoans feed on cells and body fluids.
What Eats Them
Animal-like protists are an important food source for larger animals and the basis of many food chains.
Mobility
Zooflagellates move using a flagellum. Sarcodines use pseudopods, which is a "fake foot". Ciliates use cilia to move. Sporozoans can not move on their own.
Reproduction
Most animal-like protists reproduce asexually. Sporozoans form from spores.
Development
Since animal-like protists reproduce asexually, they do not go through developmental stages. They are born genetically identical to their parent cell.
Examples
Euglenas (zooflagellates), amoebas (sarcodines), paramecium (ciliates), plasmodium, tryomosoma, and trichonympha (Sporozoans) are examples on animal-like protists.
Other Information
Animal-like protists are also called protazoans.
Protists are the first to be eukaryotes.
Habitat
Many zooflagellates form a symbiotic or mutualistic relationship with an animal. Sarcodines live in moist places, and form cysts in extreme conditions. Ciliates live in aquatic environments. Sporozoans pass from one host cell to another and are found in intestines and blood.
Anatomical/Structural Features
Animal-like protists have a nucleus but lack a cell wall. Sarcodines have a food vacuole and many have shells.
Symmetry
Animal-like protists have no symmetry.
How They Acquire Nutrients
Animal-like protists are heterotrophs and can be pathogens, parasites, or predators.
What They Eat
Animal-like protists mainly eat bacteria, but sometimes they eat other protozoa and fungi. Sporozoans feed on cells and body fluids.
What Eats Them
Animal-like protists are an important food source for larger animals and the basis of many food chains.
Mobility
Zooflagellates move using a flagellum. Sarcodines use pseudopods, which is a "fake foot". Ciliates use cilia to move. Sporozoans can not move on their own.
Reproduction
Most animal-like protists reproduce asexually. Sporozoans form from spores.
Development
Since animal-like protists reproduce asexually, they do not go through developmental stages. They are born genetically identical to their parent cell.
Examples
Euglenas (zooflagellates), amoebas (sarcodines), paramecium (ciliates), plasmodium, tryomosoma, and trichonympha (Sporozoans) are examples on animal-like protists.
Other Information
Animal-like protists are also called protazoans.