Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

protistan

Noun

prō-ˈtis-tən

Definition

Protistan refers to any organism belonging to the kingdom Protista, which consists of a diverse group of mainly unicellular or simple multicellular organisms that are not animals, plants, or fungi.

Examples

Many protistan species play a crucial role in aquatic ecosystems by serving as primary producers.
Some protistan organisms, like amoebas, can change shape and move using pseudopodia.

Meaning

The term ‘protistan’ encompasses a wide variety of eukaryotic microorganisms, including algae, protozoa, and slime molds. These organisms are often characterized by their ability to live in aquatic environments and their complex cellular structures.