Chapter: Biology: Structural Organization and Acquaintance of Animals
Amoeba Locomotion
Amoeba Locomotion
Locomotion: Animals move from one place to another for food,
self-defenseand in search of favourable environment. Such voluntary movement of
animal is known as locomotion. Amoeba move very slowly and its locomotion is
irregular. Amoeba move with the help of special type of finger-like out growth
known as pseudopodium (Plural-pseudopodia).
The meaning of pseudopodium is "false
foot"(pseudo means False and podos means foot). Amoeba at the time of
locomotion, produce pseudopodia from different parts of the body and these
again disappear within the body. This particular type of locomotion of Amoeba
is called Amoeboid movement.
At the time of locomotion pseudopodia come out from any
part of the body and the animal advances in that direction. Simultaneously with
the formation of pseudopodia, the protoplasm of the body of Amoeba flows in
that direction and with that other parts of the body move that way. In this way
Amoeba advances towards its target. It can form pseudopodia at any part of its
body and always move at the direction of pseudopodia. When new pseudopodia are
formed on one side of the body, the old pseudopodia disappear. In this way,
Amoeba moves by rolling.
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