An amoeba is classified as a protist, which means it is neither a plant nor an animal nor a fungus. Specifically, amoebas are unicellular organisms that can be found in various environments, including freshwater, saltwater, and soil.
Unlike plants, amoebas do not perform photosynthesis and lack the cell walls that characterize plant cells. They are also distinct from fungi, as fungi usually have a multicellular structure and absorb nutrients from their surroundings through decomposition.
Amoebas are fascinating because they can change shape through a process called amoeboid movement, using extensions of their cell body, called pseudopodia. They feed by engulfing food particles, a method known as phagocytosis. In summary, while amoebas share some characteristics with both animals and plants, they are actually part of their own category within the broader classification of living organisms.