[fawr-uh-min-uh-fer, for-] 
[fuh-ram-uh-nif-er-uh] . | any chiefly marine protozoan of the sarcodinian order Foraminifera, typically having a linear, spiral, or concentric shell perforated by small holes or pores through which pseudopodia extend. |
| for·a·min·i·fer (fôr'ə-mĭn'ə-fər, fŏr'-) n. Any of the chiefly marine protozoans of the order Foraminifera, characteristically having a calcareous shell with perforations through which numerous pseudopods protrude. [From New Latin Forāminifera, order name : Latin forāmen, forāmin-, an opening + Latin -fer, -fer.] fo·ram'i·nif'er·ous (fə-rām'ə-nĭf'ər-əs), fo·ram'i·nif'er·al adj. |
| foraminiferan (fə-rām'ə-nĭf'ər-ən) Pronunciation Key
Any of various chiefly marine protozoans of the order Foraminiferida or Foraminifera, having a body enclosed by a shell called a test and making up an important constituent of plankton. Perforations in a foraminiferan's test allow the protrusion of numerous long extensions (pseudopods), which form a net used to trap food. The tests of foraminiferans grow throughout the organism's life, and can exceed 5 cm (2 inches) in diameter. The tests of dead organisms form ooze found on the ocean floor. Extinct foraminiferans are important index fossils. |
foraminiferan
any unicellular organism of the rhizopodan order Foraminiferida (formerly Foraminifera), characterized by long, fine pseudopodia that extend from a uninucleated or multinucleated cytoplasmic body encased within a test, or shell. Depending on the species, the test ranges in size from minute to more than 5 cm (2 inches) in diameter and varies in shape, number of chambers, chemical composition, and surface orientation. Tests of a South Pacific species are large enough to be used as jewelry by oceanic islanders; Nummulite specimens from the Eocene limestones of the Egyptian pyramids often exceed 5 cm in diameter. Foraminiferans inhabit virtually all marine waters and are found at almost all depths, wherever there is protection and suitable food (microscopic organisms)
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əˈmɪn