Vampyrella
| Vampyrella | |
|---|---|
| Vampyrella lateritia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Diaphoretickes |
| Clade: | Sar |
| Clade: | Rhizaria |
| Phylum: | Endomyxa |
| Class: | Vampyrellidea |
| Order: | Vampyrellida |
| Family: | Vampyrellidae |
| Genus: | Vampyrella Cienkowsky, 1865 |
| Type species | |
| Vampyrella lateritia | |
Vampyrella is a genus of amoebae belonging to the vampyrellid endomyxans usually ranging from 30-60 μm. Members of the genus alternate between two life stages: a free-living trophozoite stage and a cyst stage in which mitosis occurs. This taxon has received a great deal of attention due to their peculiar feeding behaviour of perforating the cell wall of algal cells and drawing out the contents for nourishment.