Characteristics of Protists
Eukaryotes
Autotrophic, Heterotrophic or both
Multicellular and Unicellular
Reproduce sexually and asexually
Live in moist surroundings
Some can move some cannot
Three Groups of Protists
Scientists divide protists into
categories based on characteristics
they share with organisms in other
kingdoms
Animal-Like protists
Plantlike protists
Funguslike protists
Animal-Like Protists
Called animal like because
they are heterotrophs
they are able to move from place to place to
obtain food
Another name for animal-like protists is
Protozoans
Why not animals?
they are unicellular
4 groups of Animal-Like Protists
Grouped based on how they move and live
Protozoan with Pseudopods (false foot)
Protozoan with Cilia
Protozoan with Flagella
Protozoan that are parasites
Protozoan with Cillia
Cillia-hair like projections from cells that
move with wavelike motion
Example is a Paramecium
Protozoan with Flagella
Flagella—whip like structure used to move
Live in symbiosis with other organisms
Sometimes helping host, sometimes hurting
Protozoan that are Parasites
Feed on the cells and body fluids of a host
Plasmodium is a protozoan that has more
than one host and causes malaria
Plantlike Protists
Commonly called algae
Autotrophs
Multicellular and unicellular
Reproduce sexually and asexually
Euglenoids Green, unicellular, found in freshwater
Autotrophs but can be heterotrophs when
sunlight is not available
Has an eyespot and a flagellum
Red Algae Almost all are multicellular
Red pigment helps them grow deeper in the
water
Used in products such as ice cream and hair
conditioner
In Asian cultures it is eaten fresh, dried, or toasted
Green Algae Very diverse
Green pigments
Most unicellular—some form colonies and a
few are multicellular
Most live in water, some on land
Ulva Colony
Brown Algae Commonly called seaweed
Multicellular
Contain brown, yellow, green, and orange
pigments
Bladders to float upright