Foraminifera

From Foraminifera

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INTRODUCTION TO FORAMINIFERA

edited by J. Tyszka with contribution from T. Toyofuku

Living foraminifer with radially spreading reticulopodia. Phot. Takashi Toyofuku

Foraminifera are single-celled organisms (protists) with characteristic net-like pseudopodia called reticulopodia, and organic or shell-like, agglutinated or secreted outer protective layer, called a test.

The relatively small size of tests (shells) makes foraminifera much more useful for biostratigraphic, paleo/environmental, or petroleum exploration applications than larger fossils because there can be thousands of specimens in a small sediment sample.

| The oldest fossil foraminifera |

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