Archamoebae

Archamoebae
Entamoeba histolytica trophozoite
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Phylum: Amoebozoa
Clade: Evosea
Subphylum: Conosa
Infraphylum: Archamoebae
Cavalier-Smith 1998
Class: Archamoebea
Cavalier-Smith 1993, sensu Cavalier-Smith 2004
Orders and families
Synonyms
  • Karyoblastea Margulis & Schwartz 1982
  • Peloflagellatea Goodkov & Seravin 1991
  • Caryoblastea
  • Entamoebea Cavalier-Smith 1991
  • Rhizoflagellata Saville Kent 1880
  • Mastigamoebomonada Starobogatov & Seravin 1980

The Archamoebae are a group of protists originally thought to have evolved before the acquisition of mitochondria by eukaryotes.[1] They include genera that are internal parasites or commensals of animals (Entamoeba and Endolimax). A few species are human pathogens, causing diseases such as amoebic dysentery. The other genera of archamoebae live in freshwater habitats and are unusual among amoebae in possessing flagella. Most have a single nucleus and flagellum, but the giant amoeba Pelomyxa has many of each.

  1. ^ Williams BP, Keeling PJ (2003-12-09). Littlewood T (ed.). The Evolution of Parasitism - A Phylogenetic Perspective. pp. 30–31. ISBN 9780080493749. Retrieved 20 February 2018.