Protists
Protists
Protists (/ˈproʊtɪsts/) are a diverse group of eukaryotic microorganisms. Historically, protists were treated as the kingdom Protista, which includes mostly unicellular organisms that do not fit into the other kingdoms, but this group is contested in modern taxonomy.
Etymology
The term "protist" comes from the Greek "protiston", meaning "the (most) first of all ones". This reflects the "primitive" nature of the group relative to other, more complex organisms.
Classification
Protists are classified into three major groups: animal-like protists, plant-like protists, and fungus-like protists. Each of these groups has distinct characteristics and can be further subdivided into smaller groups.
Animal-like Protists
Animal-like protists, also known as Protozoa, are heterotrophic, meaning they obtain their nutrition from organic substances. They are further classified into several phyla, including Amoebae, Ciliates, and Flagellates.
Plant-like Protists
Plant-like protists, also known as Algae, are autotrophic, meaning they produce their own food through photosynthesis. They are further classified into several phyla, including Diatoms, Dinoflagellates, and Euglenoids.
Fungus-like Protists
Fungus-like protists, also known as Slime Molds, are saprophytic, meaning they obtain their nutrition from dead organic matter. They are further classified into two major groups, Plasmodial Slime Molds and Cellular Slime Molds.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Protists
- Wikipedia's article - Protists
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