animalcule

Animalcule ("little animal", from Latin animal + the diminutive suffix -culum) is an older term for a microscopic animal or protozoan. Some better-known animalcules include:

• Actinophrys, and other heliozoa, called sun animalcules
• Amoeba, called Proteus animalcule
• Noctiluca scintillans, commonly called the 'Sea Sparkles'
• Paramecium, called slipper animalcules
• Rotifers, called wheel animalcules
• Stentor, called trumpet animalcules
• Vorticella, and other peritrichs, called bell animalcules