An amoeba is a type of cell or unicellular organism which has the ability to alter its shape. It looks and moves like a blob by extending and retracting pseudopods. Pseudopods (pronounced soo·dow·pod) means “false feet.” These are the parts of the amoeba that stretch out to allow it to move or get food. When food is nearby, two pseudopods will stretch out around it to engulf it so that the amoeba may digest it.
Amoebae are often found within freshwater, typically on decaying plants in still or slow moving water. They breathe through their cell membrane. They are common organisms of study because it is easy to keep them in a laboratory. They are used to study protozoa (single celled microscopic animals) and to demonstrate cell structure and function.