Pseudopodia – Protozoans

Pseudopodia are flowing cytoplasmic protrusions of the cell causing amoeboid movement. In protozoans pseudopodia exist in several forms. The most familiar are lobopodia. These are large blunt extensions of the body containing both ectoplasm and endoplasm. Thin extensions of the body are known as filopodia. These are often branching containing only ectoplasm.

Figure: Pseudopodia:
a) Lobopodia in Amoeba
                                      b) Filopodia in Chhydophrys a freshwater amoeba
       c) Reticulopodia of Globigerim
                                                d) Axopodia of Acfinophrys sol often called sun animalcule.

Repeated branching and rejoining of filopodia to form a net like mesh is known as reticulopodia. Axopodia are long thin pseudopodia supported by axial rods of microtubules. Axopodia can be extended or retracted, apparently by addition or removal of microtubular material.