Protists

Diverse group of eukaryotic microorganisms.

Protists are a diverse group of eukaryotic microorganisms, primarily single-celled, but some form colonies or multicellular structures. They are not plants, animals, or fungi and represent a paraphyletic group encompassing organisms with varied lifestyles including photosynthetic, heterotrophic, and parasitic.

Etymology

The term 'protist' comes from the Greek word 'proteos,' meaning 'first,' reflecting their early position in biological classification.

Explain Like I’m 5

Protists are tiny, single-celled or simple multi-cellular organisms that aren't plants, animals, or fungi – think of them as a diverse group of life forms that don't fit neatly into other categories.

Fun Facts

Some protists cause diseases like malaria
Some, like kelp, are large and multicellular
Protists were once considered a single kingdom but have been reclassified

FAQ

What are protists? They are eukaryotic microorganisms
Are all protists microscopic? Yes, most are microscopic
What do protists eat? Some absorb nutrients, some consume other organisms

Hypernyms — Broader Categories

Eukaryotes Microorganisms

Hyponyms — Specific Examples

Algae Amoebas Ciliates Dinoflagellates

Holonyms — Wholes or Groups

Eukaryotic Domain Microbial World

Indexes

organism

Built by Tim Jones