Kingdom Protista Protists are so different from each other that you can think of this kingdom as the “junk drawer” kingdom. However, protists do share.

Kingdom ProtistaProtists are so different from each other that

you can think of this kingdom as the “junk drawer” kingdom.

However, protists do share some common characteristics:They are all eukaryotes, or organisms that have

cells with nuclei.They all live in moist surroundings.

Types of ProtistsOne useful way to group protists is to divide

them into three categories:

Plant-like protists (algae)

Animal-like protists (protozoans)

Fungus-like protists (slime molds)

Plant-like Protists: AlgaeAll algae are autotrophs, which means that

they make their own food.

Some algae live in the soil, other live on the barks of trees and still others live in fresh and salt water.

Algae exist in a wide variety of color because they contain different types of pigments Algae can be green, yellow, red, brown, orange

or even black.

Types of AlgaeGreen algae live mostly in fresh water but

can be found on snow banks, damp soil, rocks and tree bark.

Diatoms, a type of golden algae, have a shell made of silica.

Euglenoids can move, unlike any other type of algae, to catch food when conditions for photosynthesis are not favorable.

Algae

Animal-like Protists: Protozoans

All protozoans are unicellular (made of only one cell).

Protozoans are all heterotrophs, which means that they cannot make their own food.

Most protozoans can move from place to place to obtain their food.Scientists distinguish between four types of

protozoans based on the way they move and live.

Types of Protozoans Sarcodines: move by sending out a stream of

cytoplasm called a pseudopod (false foot) and the rest of the cell follows. The most common example is the amoeba.

Flagellates: move by the use of a whip like tail called a flagellum.

Ciliates: move by the use of short, hair like parts called cilia. The best known ciliates are paramecium.

Sporozoans: these are non-moving. All are parasites that form spores during their life cycle. The best known example is the one that causes malaria.

Protozoans

Fungus-like Protists: Slime Molds

All fungus-like protists are heterotrophs, have cell walls and use spores to reproduce.

They are able to move at some point in their lives.

They live in moist soil and on decaying plants and trees.

They move in an amoeba-like fashion, oozing along the surface.

Slime Molds