summarise characteristics about paramecia for my G7 students

Paramecia are single-celled organisms that belong to the group of protozoa. They are found in aquatic environments and have a distinct oblong or slipper shape. They have cilia, which they use for movement and feeding, and a contractile vacuole that regulates water content. Paramecia reproduce asexually by binary fission and can also exchange genetic material through a process called conjugation. They are important in freshwater ecosystems as they serve as a food source for other organisms and play a role in nutrient cycling.