Pseudopodia in Protozoa

The pseudopodia are temporary extensions of any part of the body of a protozoan without a pellicle. These are found in Sarcodina. Their shape, size, and structure vary in different groups. They are 4 types.

1. Lobopodia: These are short and blunt, finger-like outgrowths of ectoplasm with an internal core of endoplasm. E.g: Amoeba, Arcella.
2. Filopodia: The Filopodia are slender, thread-like projections from ectoplasm. E.g: Euglypha.
3. Reticulopodia: These are filamentous structures, of ectoplasm that branch and anastomose to form a complex network. E.g: Polystomelia.
4. Axopodia: The axopodia or actinopodia are long and stiff with pointed distal ends. Each axopodium consists of an enveloping sheath of cytoplasm around a central axial rod. E.g: Actinophrys