Characteristics of

Protozoa
Presentation by Kirat Kaur
Class vIII c
 Protozoa
 Protozoa are a diverse group of uni-cellular micro-organisms.
 They are heterotrophic organisms and they do not have chlorophyll.
 Example : Amoeba, Paramecium, euglena.

Euglena Paramecium
AMEOB
A
Its characteristics
 Habitat-  Protozoa are found in the aquatic environment. They
live in freshwater or oceans. Some are free-living and some are
parasitic in plants and animals. Mostly they are aerobic but some
are anaerobic and present in the rumen or human intestine.
 Size and Shape-  The size and shape of Protozoa vary greatly,
from microbial to large enough and can be seen by the naked eye.
They lack a rigid cell wall, so they are flexible and found in
various shapes. Cells are enclosed in a thin plasma membrane.
Beneficial Protozoa
 Food: Protozoa provide food for insect larvae and worms, which
are taken by fishes and crabs and which are eaten by man.
 Insect control: Several protozoa control harmful insects by
persisting their bodies.
 Helpful in sanitation: A large number of protozoa living in
polluted water feed upon organic matters and thus purify it.
 Scientific study: Many protozoa are used in biological and
medical researches.
 Harmful Protozoa
 Pollution in water: Drinking water in natural condition is made unpalatable
by the reproduction of some free living protozoa in it.
 Reduction in fertility of soil: Protozoans feed on nitrogen fixing bacteria
thus reduce the fertility of soil.
Thank you!
Presented by Kirat Kaur
VIII C
Science Multiple Assessment