Abstract Colpodella species are predatory biflagellates phylogenetically related to pathogenic Apicomplexans like Plasmodium spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Babesia spp. and Theilaria spp. Colpodella species have been reported in human and animal infections. Trophozoites of Colpodella sp. ATCC 50594 obtain nutrients through myzocytosis and endocytosis. Following attachment of Colpodella sp. to its prey Parabodo caudatus, cytoplasmic contents of the prey are aspirated into a posterior food vacuole that initiates encystation. Unattached trophozoites also endocytose nutrients as demonstrated by the uptake of 40 and 100 nm nanoparticles. Cytochalasin D treatment was shown to distort the tubular tether formed during myzocytosis showing that actin plays a role in myzocytosis. Markers associated with myzocytosis, endocytosis and food vacuole formation are unknown. Furthermore, the relationship between the model Colpodella sp. ATCC 50594 and Colpodella sp. identified in arthropods, human and animal hosts are unknown. In this study we investigated the conservation of the coronin and Kelch 13 genes in Colpodella sp. ATCC 50594 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Kelch 13 distribution in Colpodella sp. ATCC 50594 life cycle stages was investigated using anti-Kelch 13 antibodies by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. Both genes were amplified from genomic DNA extracted from diprotist culture containing Colpodella sp. and P. caudatus but not from monoprotist culture containing P. caudatus alone. We amplified DNA encoding 18s rRNA with similarity to 18s rRNA amplified using piroplasm primers from the Italian Colpodella sp. identified in cattle and ticks. Detection of the coronin and Kelch genes in Colpodella sp. provides for the first time markers for actin binding and endocytosis in Colpodella species that can be investigated further to gain important insights into the mechanisms of myzocytosis, endocytosis and food vacuole formation in Colpodella sp.