Question

Describe briefly the four major groups of Protozoa?

Answer 1

Protozoa is divided into four classes on the basis of locomotory organs.

1) mastigophora / flagellata:
Free living or parasite.
Have 1-2 thread like flagella.
Body covered by pellicle.
Reproduction asexual. Sexual absent.
Eg: euglena, Trypanosoma, Trichomonas etc.

2) sarcodina/rhizopoda:
Free living or parasite.
Locomotion by pseudopodia.
Body naked or covered with shell.
Asexual mode of reproduction. Sexual absent.
Eg: amoeba, Entamoeba histolytica etc

3) ciliata:
Free living or parasite.
Locomotion by cilia.
Body covered by pellicle.
Reproduce both sexual and asexual.
Eg: paramoecium


4) sporozoa:
Endoparasite and pathogenic.
Locomotory organelle absent.
Thick pellicle present.
Reproduce both sexual and asexual.
Eg: plasmodium, monocystis.

Answer 2

Answer:

Explanation:

Four major groups of Protozoa is as follows:

(a) Amoeboid Protozoa: They are found in fresh water, sea water or moist soil. They have pseudopodia like amoeba, hence the name amoeboid protozoa.

(b) Flagellated Protozoans: They have flagella for movement. They are either free living or parasitic.

(c) Ciliated Protozoans: They have thousands of cilia present all over the body. The cilia helps in locomotion and steering of food into the gullet.

(d) Sporozoans: Many protozoans have an infectious spore-like stage in the life cycle. The spore-like stage helps them get transferred from one host to another host.