Cell rupture in Arcellinida through the lens of evolution

The majority of predatory protists are size-limited. Arcellinida (Amoebozoa) exhibit the remarkable ability to prey upon larger rganisms. Here, we examine the co-evolution of their robust shells and predatory behavior. Tracing back to the emergence of eukaryotes, we explore how early amoebozoan predators adapted their cytoskeletons to master phagocytosis. We speculate that the diversity of shell morphology as we see it in extant Arcellinida might be a direct result to their adaptation to prey on large organisms.