The scientific name for amoeba is Acanthamoeba polyphaga. An amoeba is a single-cell organism that is classified as a protist, which is a diverse group of microorganisms.
Amoebas live in wet environments. These include ponds, lakes, rivers, streams and even puddles of water. Some amoebas live inside the bodies of animals, including human beings. Some animals, including mussels, eat amoebas as one of their primary food sources. Amoebas are useful in controlling algae in ponds, lakes and other bodies of water. However, in some circumstances, amoebas are also capable of carrying and conveying diseases to human beings, such as dysentery.