Glossary

protozoa

Plural of protozoan.

Related terms

Chilonodella
Genus of unicellular, ciliated protozoa; some species are parasites of the skin and gills in freshwater fishes.
costiasis
Disease of freshwater fishes caused by species of parasitic flagellate protozoa from the genus Ichthyobodo and more accurately referred to as ichthyobodiosis. It attacks the gills, fins and skin with symptoms including an increase body mucus secretion giving rise to the vernacular term 'skin slime disease'. Can be treated using proprietary products but frequently fatal otherwise.
microorganism
Organism that can be seen only with the aid of a microscope. Typically unicellular, e.g., baceria, protozoa, some algae.
Paramecium
Genus of unicellular ciliate protozoa with a shape resembling a grain of rice, a number of species of which are cultured as live food for small fishes and fry.
protozoan
Any member of a diverse group of unicellular eukaryotic organisms including amoebas, ciliates, flagellates, and sporozoans. Also spelled protozoon.
zooxanthella
Any member of the yellow-green algae genus Symbiodinium, comprising unicellular, flagellate protozoa that exist within the cells of other protozoa and some invertebrates, especially corals. They thus form an endosymbiosis in which they can provide up to 90% of the host's energy requirements.