Amoeboid

Definition
noun, plural: amoeboids
(1) A group of protozoans characterized by their amoeboid movement by means of temporary projections called pseudopods
(2) An amoeba-like cell; any cell capable of amoeboid movement
adjective
Of, pertaining to, resembling amoeba
Supplement
In a five kingdom scheme of classifying organisms, the amoeboids are protozoans belonging to the Kingdom Protista. The amoeboids are characterized by their amoeboid movement through temporary cellular projections called pseudopods. The other protozoans include the flagellates, the ciliates, and the sporozoans. These protozoans are classified based on their means of locomotion. The use of this scheme of classification though is no longer encouraged. Examples of species included in this group are Entameoba histolytica, Naegleria fowleri, Dictyostelium discoideum, etc.
The term amoeboid is still used though to pertain to any cell capable of amoeboid movement.¹ By extending and retracting their pseudopods, they are able to change their shape. Amoeboid cells are found in certain fungal, algal, and animal cells.
Variant(s):

• ameboid

Synonym(s):

See also:

• Sol gel transformation
• Kupffer cell
• Amoeba
• Pseudopod
• protozoa
• Protista

Related term(s):

Reference(s):

¹ Marée, A. F. M. & Hogeweg, P. (2001). “How amoeboids self-organize into a fruiting body: multicellular coordination in Dictyostelium discoideum.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 98(7): 3879–3883.