animalcules
Microscopic living things
Animalcules is an archaic term for microscopic organisms, especially the tiny creatures early microscopists observed in pond water, blood, and other fluids.
The word was common in scientific writing from the 17th through 19th centuries: Leeuwenhoek described the animalcules swimming in a drop of rainwater.
Modern biology prefers microorganisms or specific terms like protozoa and bacteria.
Single-celled eukaryotic organisms
- parameciumCiliated slipper-shaped protozoan
- amoebaeUnicellular shape-shifting organisms
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- euglenaPlant-animal hybrid microbe
flagellates · protists · eukaryotes · prokaryotes · spirochetes · microbes · germs · pathogens
Drifting marine microlife
- zooplanktonDrifting aquatic microorganisms
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- diatomsSingle-celled silica algae
- copepodsMinute aquatic crustaceans
algae · pondlife · freshwater · marine · krill · larvae · nematodes · tardigrades
Instrument for viewing minute objects
- homunculusArtificial miniature human
- spontaneous generationLife arising from nonliving material
- miasmaHarmful atmospheric emanation
- humoursFour bodily fluids
naturalist · spyglass · magnification · curiosity · discovery · specimen · droplet · pondwater
Too small for eyes
- invisibleCannot be seen
- minusculeExtremely small in size
- tinyExtremely small in size
- minuteSixtieth of an hour
infinitesimal · unicellular · single-celled · submicroscopic · nanoscopic · microbial · imperceptible · unseen
protozoa
Single-celled eukaryotic organisms
- parameciumCiliated slipper-shaped protozoan
- amoebaeUnicellular shape-shifting organisms
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
euglena · flagellates · protists · eukaryotes · prokaryotes · spirochetes · microbes · germs · pathogens · viruses
plankton
Drifting marine microlife
- zooplanktonDrifting aquatic microorganisms
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- diatomsSingle-celled silica algae
copepods · algae · pondlife · freshwater · marine · krill · larvae · nematodes · tardigrades · hydra
microscope
Instrument for viewing minute objects
- homunculusArtificial miniature human
- spontaneous generationLife arising from nonliving material
- miasmaHarmful atmospheric emanation
humours · naturalist · spyglass · magnification · curiosity · discovery · specimen · droplet · pondwater · 17th century
microscopic
Too small for eyes
minute · infinitesimal · unicellular · single-celled · submicroscopic · nanoscopic · microbial · imperceptible · unseen · teeming
animalculesmegafauna
Species over 44 kilograms
blue whale · macrofauna · whales · leviathan · elephants