Characteristics of Taxonomic Groups with Soil-inhabiting Forms

Kingdom Protozoa

Characteristics of Phylum Sarcomastigophora

Include:     

  1. Protozoa are unicellular or colonial protozoa
  2. Locomotion by flagella or pseudopodia or both
  3. Autotrophic or heterotrophic
  4. Homokaryotic (single type of nucleus)
Mastigophora - Flagellate Protozoa Sarcodina - Ameboid Protozoa

  

Characteristics of Phylum Ciliophora

Include: 

  1. Ciliates are unicellular protozoa
  2. Locomotion and feeding currents by cilia
  3. Distinct cytostome ("cell mouth")
  4. Homokaryotic (single type of nucleus)

 

 

References

Bamforth, S. S. 1980. Terrestrial Protozoa. J. Protozool. 27:33-36.

Brusca, R. C. and G. J. Brusca. 1990. Invertebrates. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA.

Dindal, D. 1990. Soil Biology Guide. John Wiley and Sons, NY.

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