protacanthamoeba protacanthamoeba protacanthamoeba is a genus of free-living naked amoebae of the family acanthamoebidae described in 1981. it has been found in associations with mycobacteria in drinking water networks, along with other acanthamoebidae genera, likely allowing the replication of both environmental and pathogenic mycobacteria. protacanthamoeba p. bohemica trophic cells and cyst scientific classification domain: eukaryota phylum: amoebozoa class: discosea order: centramoebida family: acanthamoebidae genus: protacanthamoebapage 1981 type species protacanthamoeba caledonicapage 1972 species p. bohemica p. caledonica p. invadens morphology members of protacanthamoeba are characterized by having slender, flexible and sometimes furcate subpseudopodia originated from a broad, hyaline lobose pseudopodium, as well as having centrospheres in its interior, including a plaque-shaped centriole-like body. their cysts lack preformed pores or opercula. taxonomy protacanthamoeba contains 3 species: protacanthamoeba bohemica dyková et al. 2005 protacanthamoeba caledonica page 1981 protacanthamoeba invadens (singh & hanumaiah 1979) page 1981 (previously acanthamoeba)