Archamoebae
| Archamoebae | |
|---|---|
| Entamoeba histolytica trophozoite | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota | 
| Phylum: | Amoebozoa | 
| Clade: | Evosea | 
| Subphylum: | Conosa | 
| Infraphylum: | Archamoebae Cavalier-Smith 1998 | 
| Class: | Archamoebea Cavalier-Smith 1993, sensu Cavalier-Smith 2004 | 
| Orders and families | |
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| Synonyms | |
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The Archamoebae are a group of protists originally thought to have evolved before the acquisition of mitochondria by eukaryotes. They include genera that are internal parasites or commensals of animals (Entamoeba and Endolimax). A few species are human pathogens, causing diseases such as amoebic dysentery. The other genera of archamoebae live in freshwater habitats and are unusual among amoebae in possessing flagella. Most have a single nucleus and flagellum, but the giant amoeba Pelomyxa has many of each.