The Invisible ABCs

Exploring the World of Microbes...

Letter b

Stachyamoeba cyst

Habitat:

 

Stachyamoeba is found in moist soils. 

 

Importance:

 

Due to their feeding activity, amoebae, like Stachyamoeba, play an important role as grazers of bacteria and are one of the main controllers of bacterial populations in soil.  Amoebae also enhance the nutrient cycling in the soil.  Amoebae themselves are an important source of food for small animals that live in the soil. 

 

Classification:

 

Stachyamoeba is a unicellular organism that moves using ‘false feet’ or pseudopodia which ooze out from the main body of the cell.  It also uses its pseudopodia to engulf bacteria which it eats for food. 

 

Size:

 

Stachyamoeba is about 20 mm in diameter.