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The Apusozoa are a paraphyletic phylum of flagellate eukaryotes. They are usually around 5–20 μm in size, and occur in soils and aquatic habitats, where they feed on bacterium. They are grouped together based on the presence of an organic shell or theca under the dorsal surface of the cell.
The name derives from the Ancient Greek words for footless (ἄπους) and animal (ζῷον).
This phylum was defined as containing the Breviata and the Apusomonadida. However, it is viewed as paraphyletic, with the Breviata as more basal. The opisthokonts appear to have emerged as sister of the Apusomonadida. It has been suggested that the Mantamonadida be classified in Apusozoa.
The Ancyromonadida appear to be Varisulca, Planomonadida, shifting them possibly more basal than the Amoebozoa, or less basal. While some classification systems have placed Hemimastigida in Apusozoa, 2018 research indicated that (/Hemimastix/Spironematellidae) are their own supra-kingdom.
The form of the mitochondrion varies between the different orders. Among the apusomonads they have tubular , the ancyromonads flat cristae, and the hemimastigids ambiguous or sacculate cristae. This characteristic was originally considered a good indicator of relationships, but is now known to vary even among close relatives.
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