Ameba or Amoeba

Pronunciation key ( ə-mē′bə )

a•me•ba

n.

[pl. AMEBAS (-bəz), AMEBAE (-bē)]

[<NL <Gk. amoibē change]

1. also spelled, amoeba
2. any one of the genus Amoeba, composed of unicellular micro-organisms of the Phylum Protozoa and Superclass Sarcodina (Rhizopoda). Typically found in stagnant water, and sometimes acts as a parasite on other animals. It is of an indefinate shape, changing as it moves to feed through action of pseudopodia. Its method of reproduction is by simple division of one individual cell into two separate organisms.

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom	Protozoa
Phylum	Protozoa
Subphylum	Sarcodina
Superclass	Rhizopoda
Class	Lobosa – amoebas, amibes
Direct Children:
Order	Amoebida
Order	Arcellinida
Order	Euamoebida

References and Further Reading

Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language (College Edition) ©1955

Funk and Wagnalls Standard Dictionary, Comprehensive International Edition, ©1976

Lobosa, Taxonomic Serial No.: 43850

Amebiasis, infection caused by Amoeba

Ameba, Extended article