Pompholyxophrys is a filose amoeba, with pseudopodia which resemble the axopodia of the heliozoea but lack the microtubles possessed by the latter. P. punicea is surrounded by a layer of spherical hollow siliceous elements, penetrated by characteristic hexagonal pores (seen by electron microscopy only). Members of the genus are predominantly algal feeders. Six species are known: all inhabit freshwater and are distributed world-wide. Variable in size, 15-65 microns, often orange.