What type of vacuole is responsible for digestion in protozoa?

The type of vacuole responsible for digestion in protozoa is the food vacuole. Food vacuoles are membrane-bound compartments within the cell where ingested food particles are enclosed. Following engulfment, the vacuole fuses with lysosomes that contain digestive enzymes, allowing for the breakdown of complex molecules into simpler forms that can be utilized by the organism for energy and growth.

While the phagosome is involved in the initial process of engulfing food particles, it is essentially a stage in the digestion process rather than the primary site of digestion itself. After the particle is phagocytosed, it becomes a food vacuole, which is then the specific structure where digestion occurs. Therefore, while the phagosome plays a role in the overall process, the food vacuole is the correct answer as it is directly responsible for digestion within protozoa.