- Myzocytosis
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Myzocytosis (from Greek: myzein, (μυζεῖν) meaning "to suck" and kytos (κύτος) meaning "container", hence referring to "cell") is a method of feeding found in some heterotrophic organisms. It is also called "cellular vampirism" as the predatory cell pierces the cell wall and/or cell membrane of the prey cell with a feeding tube, sucks out the cellular content and digests it.
A classic example of myzocytosis is the feeding method of the infamous predatory ciliate, Didinium, where it is often depicted devouring a hapless Paramecium. The Suctorian ciliates feed exclusively through myzocytosis.
Feeding behaviours Carnivores adultHematophagy · Insectivore · Lepidophagy · Man-eater · Molluscivore · Mucophagy · Myrmecophagy · Ophiophagy · Piscivore · Avivore · Spongivore · Vermivore · HerpetivorereproductivecannibalisticHerbivores Others Methods Apex predator · Bait balls · Bottom feeding · Browsing · Feeding frenzy · Filter feeding · Grazing · Hypercarnivore • Intraguild predation · Kleptoparasitism · Scavenging · TrophallaxisPredation · Antipredator adaptation · Carnivorous plant · Carnivorous fungus · Carnivorous protist · Category:Eating behaviorsCategories:- Ecology
- Metabolism
- Ecology stubs
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