Paramecium is a group of unicellular ciliate

Ciliate

The ciliates are a group of protozoans characterized by the presence of hair-like organelles called cilia, which are identical in structure to flagella but typically shorter and present in much larger numbers with a different undulating pattern than flagella...

 protozoa

Protozoa

Protozoa are a diverse group of single-cells eukaryotic organisms, many of which are motile. Throughout history, protozoa have been defined as single-cell protists with animal-like behavior, e.g., movement...

, which are commonly studied as a representative of the ciliate group, and range from about 0.05 to 0.35 mm in length. Simple cilia cover the body, which allow the cell to move with a synchronous motion (like a caterpillar

Caterpillar

Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...

) at speeds of approximately 12 body lengths per second. There is also a deep oral groove containing inconspicuous tongue-like compound oral cilia (as found in other peniculid

Peniculid

The peniculids are an order of ciliate protozoa, including the well-known Paramecium and its close relatives. Most are relatively large, freshwater forms that feed on smaller organisms swept into the mouth. They have simple life cycles, and in many cases do not even form resting cysts.Typically...

s) used to draw food inside.