KEY CONCEPT Kingdom Protista is the most diverse of all the kingdoms.

Protists can be animal-like, plantlike, or funguslike. Protists are eukaryotes that are not animals, plants, or fungi. didinium vs paramecium

Animal-like protists consume other organisms. heterotrophs single-celled move

Plantlike protists are photosynthetic. single-celled, colonial, or multicellular no roots, stems, or leaves Pediastrum kelp

Funguslike protists decompose dead organisms. heterotrophs can move, whereas fungi cannot dog vomit slime mold

Protists are difficult to classify. Protista is one kingdom in the domain Eukarya.

Protist classification will likely change. Have many phyla that are very different. Some protists are not closely related. Molecular evidence supports reclassification.

Conclusion Molecular evidence will probably lead to the splitting of the protist kingdom into more groups.