What is the Difference Between Amoeba and Entamoeba?

Amoeba and Entamoeba are two species belonging to the taxonomic group Amoebozoa, which are characterized by the presence of different types of pseudopods or pseudopodia, including blunt, lobose pseudopods and tubular-shaped mitochondrial cristae. They are both unicellular organisms classified under the kingdom Protista. However, there are several differences between them:

• Habitat: Amoeba is found in marine and freshwater environments, while Entamoeba lives inside a host body as an internal parasite.
• Mode of Nutrition: Amoeba is heterotrophic, obtaining nutrition from algae and plankton. Entamoeba, on the other hand, is an internal parasite and obtains nutrition from its host.
• Contractile Vacuoles: Freshwater Amoebae possess contractile vacuoles, but marine Amoebae do not. Entamoeba does not have contractile vacuoles.
• Examples: Acanthamoeba is an example of Amoeba. Entamoeba histolytica is a well-known pathogenic species of Entamoeba, associated with intestinal and extraintestinal infections.

In summary, Amoeba and Entamoeba are both unicellular organisms belonging to the Amoebozoa group, but they differ in their habitat, mode of nutrition, and the presence of contractile vacuoles.

Comparative Table: Amoeba vs Entamoeba

Amoeba and Entamoeba are both unicellular organisms belonging to the taxonomic group amoebozoa, but they have different characteristics and habits. Here is a table comparing the differences between Amoeba and Entamoeba:

While both Amoeba and Entamoeba are unicellular organisms with pseudopods and reproduce through binary fission, Amoeba is a free-living organism, whereas Entamoeba is an endoparasite that resides inside a host body. Some Entamoeba species, such as Entamoeba histolytica, can cause diseases in animals and humans, while Amoeba is not pathogenic.