paramecia

Everyday

Paramecia are tiny one-celled living things that live in fresh water and are shaped like a slipper; they swim using tiny hairs called cilia. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons about microscopes and microorganisms, paramecia are seen in pond water. They eat bacteria and move by beating their cilia. They show that a whole living thing can be just one cell.

Examples

• We saw paramecia under the microscope. tree →
• Paramecia live in pond water. tree →
• Paramecia swim by waving tiny hairs called cilia. tree →
• One paramecium is too small to see with your eyes. tree →
• The paramecia ate the bacteria in the drop of water. tree →
• Paramecia are shaped a bit like a slipper. tree →

Note

Paramecia is plural; the singular is paramecium. Pronounced "pa-ruh-MEE-see-uh". They are single-celled organisms (protists), not animals or plants in the usual sense, and not bacteria.