A genus of single-celled organisms with a shell-like covering made of particles stuck together, commonly found in freshwater environments.
From Latin 'diffluere' meaning 'to flow apart' (dis- + fluere), coined by scientists to describe organisms that seem to spread or distribute themselves in water. The name reflects how these protozoans were observed moving through aquatic environments.
Difflugia are amazing tiny architects—they literally construct their homes by collecting sand grains and sticking them together with a natural cement. You can find them under any microscope looking at pond water, and they've been doing this for over 200 million years!
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