testate amoebae

Not to be confused with the genus Thecamoeba.

Testate amoebae (thecamoebians, Testacea or Thecamoeba) are a polyphyletic group of ameboid protists characterized by the presence of a test. Testate amoebae mainly include the Euglyphida (Rhizaria: Cercozoa) and the Arcellinida (Amoebozoa), but also some minor groups like the Amphitremida (Stramenopiles: Labyrinthulomycetes), the Tectofilosida and Gromia (Cercozoa), Himatismenida, Thecamoebida and Trichosida (Amoebozoa). The Foraminifera are not included in the group, however.