Amoebas, which are a type of protist, use extensions of their cell membrane called pseudopodia for movement. These pseudopodia are temporary projections that allow the amoeba to crawl along surfaces in a process known as amoeboid movement.
The movement starts when the amoeba extends a part of its body in the direction it wants to move. This extension is filled with cytoplasm, and as it pushes out, the rest of the cell follows. The ability to form these protrusions is made possible by the amoeba’s flexible plasma membrane and the flow of cytoplasm within the cell.
This type of locomotion is not only essential for movement but also plays a crucial role in feeding, as amoebas engulf their food through a process called phagocytosis, using the pseudopodia to surround and enclose the food particle.