Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "Tantanin halitta" wani nau'i ne na tantanin halitta wanda ke da tsari mai kama da bulala da ake kira flagellum, wanda ake amfani dashi don motsi ko motsa jiki. Wadannan kwayoyin halitta ana samun su a cikin kwayoyin halitta masu guda daya, irin su protozoans, da kuma a cikin wasu kyallen jikin kwayoyin halitta masu yawa, irin su kwayoyin halittar dabbobi. Tutar ta ƙunshi microtubules kuma tana da ikon yin duka ta hanyar haɗin gwiwa don ciyar da tantanin halitta gaba ko matsar da ruwa ya wuce tantanin halitta.