INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY IN THREE BOOKS - BOOK 1 - H.Y. Shcherbak - 1995

SUBKINGDOM PROTOZOA, OR UNICELLULAR ANIMALS (PROTOZOA)

PHYLUM SARCOMASTIGOPHORA (SARCOMASTIGOPHORA)

Subphylum Sarcodina (Sarcodina)

Sarcodines predominantly inhabit marine plankton or benthos, and many representatives of this subphylum are also widespread in freshwater bodies and soils, with a small number being parasitic. Over 10,000 species have been described.

The life cycle of sarcodines is dominated by an amoeboid form capable of producing pseudopodia. The number, shape, and Fine Structure of pseudopodia vary among representatives of different taxa. Broad, lobe-like pseudopodia are called lobopodia; thread-like, branching pseudopodia capable of anastomosing (intertwining) are termed filopodia; and straight, unbranched pseudopodia containing internal supporting arrays of microtubules are known as axopodia. The subphylum comprises the superclasses Rhizopoda and Actinopoda.



Last update: 13/08/2026

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