The
heliozoa, or sun animalcules, comprise several unrelated groups of
amoeboid protists. They all have many stiff axopods, giving them their radiant appearance from which they are named. These are used to capture tiny particles of food and in motile forms to move about. Most heliozoa are found in freshwater, although there are numerous exceptions. They are distinguished from
radiolaria by lacking central capsules, and if any skeletal elements are present, they are only simple scales and spines.
The following groups include heliozoa:
