protist
Neither plant nor animal
A protist is a single-celled organism that isn't a bacterium, animal, plant, or fungus—a catch-all category for microscopic life that doesn't fit elsewhere.
Amoebas, algae, and paramecia are protists.
The term is useful in biology education but reflects convenience rather than evolutionary kinship: We examined protists under the microscope in lab.
One cell only
- eukaryoteOrganism with nucleated cells
- nucleusCentral controlling part
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
- cytoplasmGel surrounding the nucleus
flagellum · cilia · pseudopod · vacuole · chloroplast · cell membrane · organelle · endosymbiosis
Shape-shifting single-celled organism
- parameciumCiliated slipper-shaped protozoan
- euglenaPlant-animal hybrid microbe
- diatomSingle-celled silica algae
- dinoflagellateDual-flagellated marine microorganism
ciliate · flagellate · slime mold · red algae · green algae · kelp · plasmodium · giardia
Drifting marine microlife
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- zooplanktonDrifting aquatic microorganisms
- algal bloomSudden overgrowth in water
- red tideToxic algae discoloring seawater
marine · freshwater · pond · symbiont · decomposer · producer · consumer · food web
Monarch's ruled territory
- domainArea of control
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
- apicomplexaParasitic protozoan phylum
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
Mosquito-borne parasitic infection
- giardiasisProtozoan intestinal infection
- dysenteryBloody intestinal infection
- sleeping sicknessParasitic disease causing prolonged drowsiness
- leishmaniasisSandfly-transmitted parasitic disease
toxoplasmosis · trichomoniasis · amebic · parasite · infection · vector · host · transmission
unicellular
One cell only
- eukaryoteOrganism with nucleated cells
- nucleusCentral controlling part
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
cytoplasm · flagellum · cilia · pseudopod · vacuole · chloroplast · cell membrane · organelle · endosymbiosis · binary fission
amoeba
Shape-shifting single-celled organism
- parameciumCiliated slipper-shaped protozoan
- euglenaPlant-animal hybrid microbe
- diatomSingle-celled silica algae
dinoflagellate · ciliate · flagellate · slime mold · red algae · green algae · kelp · plasmodium · giardia · toxoplasma
plankton
Drifting marine microlife
- phytoplanktonPhotosynthetic aquatic drifters
- zooplanktonDrifting aquatic microorganisms
- algal bloomSudden overgrowth in water
red tide · marine · freshwater · pond · symbiont · decomposer · producer · consumer · food web · aquatic
kingdom
Monarch's ruled territory
- domainArea of control
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
- apicomplexaParasitic protozoan phylum
malaria
Mosquito-borne parasitic infection
- giardiasisProtozoan intestinal infection
- dysenteryBloody intestinal infection
- sleeping sicknessParasitic disease causing prolonged drowsiness
leishmaniasis · toxoplasmosis · trichomoniasis · amebic · parasite · infection · vector · host · transmission · waterborne