rhizopod

9.9

A tiny single-celled animal that moves and eats using arm-like parts

noun
/ˈraɪzəˌpɒd/

Archaic

: rizópodo

In the pond, we found several rhizopods that were moving using their pseudopodia to capture tiny food particles.

Examples

The scientist studied a variety of rhizopods under the microscope to learn more about their feeding habits.
During the biology class, we learned that rhizopods are important for understanding the evolution of cellular movement.
Then, with lowering temperatures come the seaweeds and the rhizopods, then the land plants and the lunged vertebrates.

Academic text (1996)

Synonyms

ameba

vsrhizopod

Specialized

1 7.9

A tiny animal made of one cell that moves and eats by forming temporary arms

is a wider group term not limited to single freshwater or parasitic forms

rhizopodan

vsrhizopod

Archaic

9.9

A tiny single-celled animal that moves and eats using temporary arm-like parts

is the basic term for the same group rather than an adjective form

sarcodinian

vsrhizopod

Archaic

9.9

A one-celled animal that moves and eats using temporary arm-like parts

is the common descriptive term for that group rather than technical label

sarcodine

vsrhizopod

Archaic

9.9

A single-celled animal that moves and eats by making temporary extensions of its body called pseudopods

is a broader modern label used outside strict classification

Surface Forms

rhizopod singular

rhizopods plural

Morphology

rhizopod = rhizo + pod (opaque) = rhizo + pod

The components 'rhizo' and 'pod' are not commonly recognized by learners, and the specific biological meaning is specialized.

Etymology

Rhizopod comes from Greek parts rhiz- meaning 'root' and -pod meaning 'foot', the same -pod in tripod. So a rhizopod is like a tiny creature with 'root-like feet' — the thin parts it pushes out to move and eat.