rhizomastigote

rhizomastigote, any member of the flagellate protozoan order Rhizomastigida, with features similar to both flagellates and sarcodines (protozoans having pseudopodia). Members are permanently amoeboid and may have from 1 to 50 flagella. Pseudopodia (cytoplasmic extensions) vary in number and appearance; some are axopodia (composed of an axial rod and a cytoplasmic envelope), others are lobopodia (tonguelike in form). Most members of the order (e.g., Mastigamoeba) are free-living in fresh and salt water, in soil, or...