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SYNOPTIC DESCRIPTION OF PHYLUM FORAMINIFERA

SYNOPTIC DESCRIPTION OF PHYLUM FORAMINIFERA

EUKARYA> CHROMALVEOLATA> RHIZARIAE> FORAMINIFERA
FORAMINIFERA LINKS

Introduction

Hierarchical Classification

The following description of the Phylum Granuloreticulosa was taken from Lee (1990), Lee et al. (2000). Margulis and Schwartz (1988 and 1998), Kudo (1966), Grell (1976), Cushman (1980), Bovee (1985b), Bock et al. (1985) and Sleigh et al. (1984).

I. SYNONYMS: Forams, Foraminifera, Granuloreticulosa.

II. NUMBER: Likely as many as 35,000-40,000 species, but only 4,000 species described, many of which are extinct taxa.

III. PHYLUM CHARACTERISTICS

  • A. Structure and Physiology:
    • Cell Form: Unicells with an anastomosing web or net-like pseudopodial array, called reticulopodia (text with tooltip) Reticulopods are pseudopods that form a branched, web or net-like structure. . Internal test perforated by many pores or foramina.
    • Flagella: Some produce flagellated isogametes (text with tooltip) Isogametes are gametes that are equal in size. with two unequal flagella; reports conflict, one may be tinsel or both may be whiplash.
    • Basal Bodies: Probably perpendicular (text with tooltip) Basal bodies are perpendicular (or orthogonal) when their orientation relative to each other is at a right angle. but orientation has not been confirmed.
    • Cell Covering: Naked but with an internal skeleton ( test (text with tooltip) A test is an external covering that is secreted or constructed by secretions from the cell. I distinguish it from a cell wall in that a test is not appressed to the plasmalemma. In fact, sometimes the cell can leave the test entirely. ) of calcium carbonate or organic material.
    • Chloroplasts: Some with endosymbiotic (text with tooltip) An endosymbiont is a living cell that has become symbiotic within the host cell. Thus, the endosymbiont and the host become interdependent. Mitochondria and chloroplasts (among others) are common endosymbionts. photosynthetic protists.
    • Food Reserves: Not known.
    • Mitochondria: Present with tubular cristae (text with tooltip) Mitochondrial cristae that form as extended saccate structures or tubes are called tubular cristae. .
    • Golgi (text with tooltip) Golgi apparatus (also called dictyosome) is an internal membrane system of stacked flattened sacs. They occur in nearly all eukaryotes and are involved in storing and secreting cellular products. : Present.
    • Nucleus: Nuclear differentiation (text with tooltip) The condition in which a cell can have different forms of nuclei is called the condition of dimorphic nuclei. Usually, one form controls vegetative functions while the other form is involved in reproduction. Both Foraminiferotista and Ciliota have dimorphic nuclei. ( generative (text with tooltip) Nuclei that can fuse or are destined to produce gametes. and somatic nuclei) in some species with a diploid phase.
    • Centrioles: Not known.
    • Inclusions and Ejectile Organelles: Food vaculoes.
  • B. Mitosis, Meiosis and Life History
    • Mitosis: Heterokaryosis (= closed (text with tooltip) Mitosis is closed when the segregation of daughter chromosomes occurs within the bounds of the nuclear membrane (the nuclear membrane does not break down). ); the nuclear envelope does not break down.
    • Meiosis: Occurs but details are not known.
    • Sexual Reproduction and Life History: Alternation of uninucleate haploid and multinucleate diploid phases in most described species.
  • C. Ecology: Plankton and benthos; mostly marine, some freshwater.
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By Jack R. Holt. Last revised: 03/06/2013
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