A. UNDERSTANDING THE DEFINITIONS OF
ANIMAL-LIKE PROTISTS
Animal-Like Protist is a member of a Protists group
that has the characteristics similiar to an animal (kingdom animalia), which
can move and multiply. Animal-Like Protist often referred as Protozoa. Protozoa
word comes from the Greek, Proto = first, and zoo = animals. Its members have
varied shapes; round, oval, rod and there is the shape changes according to
environmental conditions. Protozoa are cosmopolitan creatures, which means it
can be found in any habitat. Animal-Like Protist can reproduce sexually and
asexually. Sexually by conjugation, with attachment of two individual which
exchange their core. While asexually done by dividing. There are more than
40,000 species of Animal-Like Protist that has been recognized.
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| ANIMAL-LIKE PROTISTS |
Its members have different characteristics, There is holozoic, they eat other organisms
smaller than them; Holofitic, those
are capable of producing their own food; and saprozoic, they are getting the organic material of an organism's
body that had been dead. Animal-Like Protist have motion tools that allowed them
to move freely. It could be flagella (whip feathers), cilia (hairs vibrate),
and pseudo feet (pseudopodia).
B. CLASSIFICATION (TYPES) AND CHARACTERISTICS
OF ANIMAL LIKE PROTISTS
Based on its locomotor (Tool Of Motion), Animal-Like
Protist were divided into 6 phylum, namely:
1.
Zoomastigophora (ZooFlagellates)
Zomastigophora a group of Animal-Like Protist that has
flagella (whip feathers) as they tool of motion. Flagella comes from the Latin
meaning whip. Mastigophora derived from the Greek "mastig” which means
whip, and" phora " which meas movement. This group generally has two
flagella in his body, could both be in the back of the body, or (not infrequently) found in the front and back
of the body. Habitat mostly in water, soil, symbiotic with other living beings,
or a parasite. Most live as solitary unicellular organisms (living alone),
while others live in colonies. Zooflagellata is an heterotroph, because they
dont have chloroplasts.
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| ZOOMASTIGOPHORA |
2. Ciliophora
(ciliate)
Ciliate is a group of Animal Like Protist that has
cilia (hairs vibrate) as they tool of motion. Generally, a unicellular
organisms that live solitary (alone) in freshwater habitats. In addition to
functioning as their tool of motion, cilia contained in all parts of his body.
Cilia function is moving the food to be able to enter through the mouth.
Because they can not produce their own food, then Ciliate including
heterotrophic organisms. Ciliate usually has two core cells called makronukleus
(larger) and micronucleus (smaller size). Asexual reproduction is done by
dividing, and sexual performed by conjugation (mutual gluing body and core
exchange). Ciliate is a great predator, they can release needle called trichocysts
so their prey can not move. Then he will eat the prey and conduct on the part
of the digestive vacuole. Leftover food will be issued through a process of
exocytosis (plasma membrane transport of molecules from the inside out).
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| CILIOPHORA (CILIATES) |
3. Rhizopoda
(Sarcodina)
Rhizopoda is a group of Animal Like Protist that has pseudo
feet (pseudopodia) as their tool of motion. Artificial leg is derived from
cytoplasm of their cells. Spesies of Rhizopoda ie amoeba sp. often found in
ponds or water. Rhizopoda have a complex internal structure that allows it to
sense and capture prey. Besides functioning to move, artificial legs also
serves to capture their food. After the food is digested, the remaining results
of digestive substances will condense and pull out to the ends and then exit
their body. Because they can not produce its own food, then Rhizopoda is
heterotrophic organisms. Rhizopoda reproduce by splitting in direct (binary
fission).
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| RIZHOPODA (SARCODINA) |
4. Apicomplexa
(Sporozoa)
Sporozoa (Sporo = seed, zoa = animal) is a
unicellular organism that does not have the tool of motions. This organism
moves by contractions throughout the cell. Sporozoa live as parasites, and the
food is absorbed directly from its host. Many of its members have a complex
life cycle, therefore it is also called Apicomplexa. Some species of this group
can cause serious illness in another living organism, one famous example is the
Plasmodium sp. as the cause of malaria.
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| APICOMPLEXA |
5. Actinopoda
(Heliozoa and Radiozoa)
Actinopeda is an animal-like protist that has tapered
pseudo-foot (pseudopodia) emanating from his body as their tool of motion. This
type of Pseudopodia is called axopodia. Axopodia serves to make it float and
preying on other smaller organisms. Aticnopoda name means radiating leg or foot
beam. Most Actinopoda is plankton. Actinopoda consists of heliozoa and
radiozoa. Heliozoa generally live in freshwater, while radiozoa live in
seawater.
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| ACTINOPODA (HELIOZOA AND RADIOZOA) |
6.
Foraminifera
Foraminifera are Animal Like Protists found in the
sea, sand, stick to rocks or algae. Foraminifera name comes from the word
meaning foramen hole. This group has a shell or skeleton composed by Calcium
Bicarbonate (CaCO3). If he died, then the shell will form Globigerina land,
this land can be used as markers of oil resources. Locomotor at the foot of
foraminifera are pseupodia that finely interconnected to one another. 90%
foraminifera were found in fossil form in the oceans.
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| FORAMINIFERA |
