Protozoans - Ciliata
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Description:
The characteristic features of Ciliata are as follows −
- Most advanced and diversified group of protozoa.
- One celled organisms but they have specialized organs to perform different functions.
- Found in fresh water.
- Some are endoparasites and pathogenic.
- Cilia help in locomotion and they always beat in coordination.
- Cilia also help in food collection.
- Heterotrophic and holozoic in nutrition.
- They have cytosome, which is a well developed feeding apparatus.
- Show both asexual and asexual mode of reproduction.
- Asexual reproduction occurs by binary fission and sexual reproduction occurs by conjugation.
- Ciliated protozoans show nuclear dimorphism.
- Fresh water ciliates have contractile vacuoles for osmoregulation.
- They have organs for defence and anchorage which are known as trichocysts.
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