nutrition in amoeba

Description
The habitat of the amoeba is the mud and water of ponds and ditches. In the mud, there are many microscopic plants known as desmids.

When the protoplasm of the amoeba comes into contact with one of these plants, it flows round the plant, forming a cup shaped projection. This is literally a food cup, which completely encloses and ingests the food. In this way a food-vacuole is formed in the endoplasm. An amoeba, however, does not feed entirely on plants it is also carnivorous feeding on tiny ciliates.

In the food vacuole, digestion commences and affected by similar processes to higher animals. Enzymes are secreted into the food vacuoles along with other digestive juices. The digested material is now in a solution that can be absorbed into the surrounding cytoplasm. Once all the digestible material has been absorbed the remainder is excreted by the animal.