Myzocytosis
Myzozytose ( from the Greek: myzein ( μυζεῖν ) "suck " and kytos ( κύτος ) "container", in this case " cell ") is a method of feeding some heterotrophic organisms. The myzozytierender unicellular pierces thereby the cell envelope of the prey cell with a hose or a tube and suck the cell contents.
The sucking out cell contents are enclosed and digested in a vacuole. Some dinoflagellates it can be observed that, especially chloroplasts are maintained, and further function as Kleptoplastiden. This Kleptoplastidie plays an important role in explaining the endosymbiont theory.
Examples
A classic example of Myzozytose is the feeding method of the little-known ciliates Didinium. This Suctorie nourished solely by Myzozytose.
Many thekate dinoflagellates such as Dinophysis also use the Myzozytose order to feed on prey cells, which are significantly greater than themselves For Pfiesteria, which attacks besides plankton, cells of fish, the effect can be so severe that the fish through the skin injury die.