This amoeba eats prey like owls do

The microscopic predator engulfs algae, drains the cells and spits out the shell

A microscope image of an orange Strigomyxa ruptor amoeba with a green algae cell inside of it.

The amoeba Strigomyxa ruptor (large yellow-orange cell) engulfs its prey, a Closterium alga (elongated green cell). Unlike all known protists, the amoeba splits open its prey, extracts and consumes the innards, and ejects the undigested cell walls.

A. Suthaus

A microbial predator that stalks the waters of the German countryside envelopes its victims and leaves their empty husks behind.

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