Amoeba proteus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Amoeba proteus
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Amoebozoa
Phylum: Tubulinea
Order: Tubulinida
Family: Amoebidae
Genus: Amoeba
Species: A. proteus
Binomial name
Amoeba proteus

Amoeba proteus, previously Chaos diffluens, is an amoeba closely related to the giant amoebae. These are the species that are commonly bought at science supply stores.

This small protozoan uses tentacular protuberances called pseudopodia to move and phagocytose smaller unicellular organisms, which are enveloped inside the cell's cytoplasm in a food vacuole,[1] where they are slowly broken down by enzymes. Amoeba proteus is very well known for its extending pseudopodia. It occupies freshwater environments and feeds on other protozoans, algae, rotifers, and even other smaller amoebae. Due to phytochromes, A. proteus may appear in a variety of colors (often yellow, green and purple) under a microscope.

A. proteus possesses a nucleus containing granular chromatin, and is therefore a eukaryote. Its membrane is mostly gram negative.

Video gallery[edit]

Amoeba proteus in motion
Amoeba engulfing a diatom

amoeba proteus has a pseudopodia that it moves to all directions.

See also[edit]


  1. ^ Nishihara E, Shimmen T, Sonobe S (December 2004). "Functional characterization of contractile vacuole isolated from Amoeba proteus". Cell Struct. Funct. 29 (4): 85–90. doi:10.1247/csf.29.85. PMID 15665503. [dead link]