Question

The protozoan with heliopodia as locomotory structures is

• A. Actinophrys
• B. Entamoeba
• C. Elphidium
• D. Euglypha

Answer 1

The correct option is A Actinophrys

Protozoa are microscopic unicellular eukaryotes that have relatively complex internal structure and carry out complex metabolic activities. All higher animals are infected with one or more species of Protozoa.

Based on the mode of locomotion, protozoa have been divided into four types.

( 1 ) Amoeboid

( 2 ) Flagellates

( 3 ) Ciliates

( 4. ) Sporozoans

Heliopodia is axopodia found in Actinophrys. These axopodia consist of a central, rigid rod which is coated in thin layer of ectoplasm and is rooted in the endoplasm to terminate there. They are composed of microtubules. These axopodia are used for prey capture, mobility cell fusion and division. The arrangement of axopodia around the spherical body of Actinophrys look like beams of light coming out of the sun, therefore they are called as Heliozoa or “ sun animalcule”, and The axopodia are called heliopodia.

Thus, the correct answer is option A.