Lobosea

Lobosea is a class of amoeboid protozoa, characterized by the presence of pseudopodia. These pseudopodia are used for locomotion and feeding. The class Lobosea is part of the phylum Amoebozoa, which includes several other classes of amoeboid protozoa.

Characteristics

Loboseans are typically unicellular organisms, although some species form colonies. They are characterized by the presence of lobose pseudopodia, which are blunt and finger-like extensions of the cell body. These pseudopodia are used for locomotion and for capturing food particles.

Loboseans have a flexible cell membrane and lack a permanent external shell, although some species can produce a temporary shell or test. The cytoplasm is often divided into a clear outer layer, or ectoplasm, and a granular inner layer, or endoplasm.

Classification

The class Lobosea is divided into two orders: Tubulinea and Discosea. Tubulinea includes species with tubular pseudopodia, while Discosea includes species with disc-shaped pseudopodia.

Ecology

Loboseans are found in a wide range of habitats, including freshwater, marine, and terrestrial environments. They feed on bacteria, algae, and other small organisms. Some species are parasitic, infecting other organisms and causing diseases.

Medical relevance

Some loboseans, such as the genus Entamoeba, are medically important as they can cause diseases in humans. For example, Entamoeba histolytica is the causative agent of amoebiasis, a disease that can cause severe diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

See also

• Amoebozoa
• Protozoa
• Amoebiasis

External links

• Tree of Life Web Project: Lobosea

Further reading

• Patterson, D.J. (1999). "The Diversity of Eukaryotes". American Naturalist 154: S96–S124.
• Smirnov, A.V., Chao, E., Nassonova, E.S., & Cavalier-Smith, T. (2011). "A Revised Classification of Naked Lobose Amoebae (Amoebozoa: Lobosa)". Protist 162: 545–570.