Archamoebae

Archamoebae are a group of amoebae that do not form pseudopods for movement. They are typically found in anaerobic environments, such as the human gut, and some are parasitic. The group was first defined by Thomas Cavalier-Smith in 1983.

Classification

Archamoebae are classified under the eukaryotic supergroup Amoebozoa. They are further divided into two families: Entamoebidae and Mastigamoebidae. The former includes the genera Entamoeba and Endolimax, while the latter includes Mastigamoeba and Pelomyxa.

Characteristics

Archamoebae are characterized by their lack of pseudopods. Instead, they move by amoeboid movement, which involves the flowing of their cytoplasm. They are also known for their ability to survive in anaerobic environments, which they achieve through fermentation or the use of hydrogenosomes.

Pathogenicity

Some species of Archamoebae, such as Entamoeba histolytica, are parasitic and can cause disease in humans. E. histolytica is the causative agent of amoebiasis, a disease that can lead to dysentery and liver abscesses.

See also

• Amoebozoa
• Entamoeba
• Mastigamoeba

External links

• Archamoebae at the NCBI Taxonomy Browser