Important Protist Vocabulary
Vocabulary Word
Definition
Protist
Single-cell organism that cannot be classified into
the animal, plant, or fungus kingdom
Flagellum
(Flagella)
Whip-like structure on the front of a euglena and
volvox; used liked a motor to help pull the
organism through the water; organism will have
only 1 or 2
Eye Spot
Organelle that helps a euglena or volvox detect
light – important because they need sunlight to
make food to survive
Chlorophyll
A green pigment contained in the chloroplasts –
carries out photosynthesis.
Chloroplast
Organelle that contains chlorophyll – used to
capture energy from the sun and used to produce
food; found in euglena and volvox.
Photosynthesis
Process by which autotrophs use sunlight and
carbon dioxide to make their own food.
Pseudopod
Means “false foot” – an amoeba will stretch out its
cytoplasm into finger-like extensions and creep
along like an inchworm.
Cilia
Many tiny hair-like projections that cover a
paramecium; used for movement (like tiny oars) and to
transport food to the “mouth” of the paramecium
Contractile
Vacuole
Organelle inside protists (amoeba, euglena, and
paramecium) that removes excess water; keeps the
protist from exploding due to too much water intake
Food
Vacuole
A bubble inside a cell that contains nutrients the
cell needs to survive.
Autotroph
Organism that can make its own food to survive.
Heterotroph
Organism that must consume outside food to
survive.
Picture
Protist
Amoeba
Euglena
Paramecium
Volvox
Amoeba
Euglena
Paramecium
Volvox
Amoeba
Euglena
Paramecium
Volvox
Amoeba
Euglena
Paramecium
Volvox
Amoeba
Euglena
Paramecium
Volvox
Amoeba
Euglena
Paramecium
Volvox
Amoeba
Euglena
Paramecium
Volvox
Amoeba
Euglena
Paramecium
Volvox
Amoeba
Euglena
Paramecium
Volvox
Amoeba
Euglena
Paramecium
Volvox
Amoeba
Euglena
Paramecium
Volvox
Amoeba
Euglena
Paramecium
Volvox