Heliozoans

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of single-celled protists characterized by radiating axopodia used for capturing food and movement ; organisms found mainly in freshwater environments exhibiting spherical shape with needle-like projections ; solitary amoeboid protozoans distinguished by their sun-like rays functioning in feeding and support
2. Unicellular microorganisms possessing slender, radiating pseudopods adapted for feeding and locomotion ; freshwater protists shaped roughly like spheres with stiff axopodia extending outward ; solitary protozoans that resemble a sun due to their needle-like projections used to trap prey and stabilize themselves
3. Protists distinguished by their spherical form and radiating needle-like extensions that aid in prey capture and movement ; freshwater unicellular organisms utilizing axopodia for feeding and environmental interaction ; amoeboid protists resembling sunbursts by virtue of thin radiating pseudopods employed for food gathering and support

Etymology: Heliozoans are named for the sun. The Greek "helios" means "sun," and "zoion" means "animal," so the name translates roughly as "sun-animals." The class name Heliozoa was formed from these Greek roots, and the English term heliozoan was built from it by adding the suffix "-an," which marks a member of a group. The plural "heliozoans" is simply the form used when referring to more than one such organism. The name fits the creatures well. Their stiff, needle-like axopodia radiate outward from a roughly spherical body in every direction, giving them the look of a sun with rays. Those rays catch prey, and they also help keep the organism steady in the water.

Synonyms: sun animalcules