what is an ameba

An amoeba is a type of cell or unicellular organism that can alter its shape, primarily by extending and retracting pseudopods. They are found in virtually all groups of protists, including Amoebozoa, Rhizaria, and Excavata. Amoebas are identified by their ability to form temporary cytoplasmic extensions called pseudopodia, or false feet, by means of which they move about. This type of movement, called amoeboid movement, is considered to be the most primitive form of animal locomotion. The best-known amoeboid protists are Chaos carolinense and Amoeba proteus, both of which have been widely cultivated and studied in classrooms and laboratories. Other well-known species include the so-called "brain-eating amoeba" Naegleria fowleri, the intestinal parasite Entamoeba histolytica, which causes amoebic dysentery, and the multicellular "social amoeba" or slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum. Amoebas are used extensively in cell research for determining the relative functions and interactions of the nucleus and the cytoplasm.