Rhizopodea

Article By:

Hall, Richard P. University of California, Los Angeles, California.

Last reviewed:August 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.587100

A class of Sarcodina including both parasitic and free-living protozoan species found in freshwater, salt water, and soil. No species forms true axopodia; instead, pseudopodia may be filopodia, lobopodia, or reticulopodia; or there may be no pseudopodia in some cases. Five subclasses are included in the class Rhizopodea: namely, Lobosia, Filosia, Granuloreticulosia, Mycetozoia, and Labyrinthulia. Lobosia are amebas and testate rhizopods with lobopodia. Filosia are naked or testate species with filopodia. Granuloreticulosia are noted for their reticulopodia, which often fuse into extensive networks. A bidirectional flow of cytoplasm typically moves granules into opposite directions along the two sides of a single pseudopodium. Mycetozoia are a heterogeneous collection, including both cellular and true slime molds. Labyrinthulia are unique protozoa that form no obvious pseudopodia, but move by still undetermined methods on or inside secreted tubules. Many members of Rhizopodea are phagotrophic, but ingestion has not been described in Labyrinthulia. A test may be present or absent in different genera of Lobosia, Filosia, and Granuloreticulosia. See also: Labyrinthulia; Lobosia; Protozoa; Sarcodina; Sarcomastigophora

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