Foraminiferideille

Foraminiferida, commonly known as foraminifera or forams, are a phylum of single-celled eukaryotes, predominantly marine, that are characterized by the presence of shells or tests. These tests are typically constructed from organic compounds, chitin, or agglutinated particles from their environment, though some secrete tests of calcium carbonate. The name "foraminifera" comes from the Latin word "foramen," meaning "opening" or "pore," referring to the pores in their shells through which they extend pseudopods.

These organisms are found in all oceans, from shallow coastal waters to the deep sea, and also in brackish and freshwater environments. Their diversity is immense, with tens of thousands of described species, both living and fossil. Fossil foraminifera are particularly important in paleontology and stratigraphy due to their abundance, rapid evolution, and wide geographic distribution, making them excellent index fossils for dating sedimentary rocks and reconstructing past environments.

Foraminifera exhibit a wide range of life strategies. Many are planktonic, drifting in the water column, while others are benthic, living on the seafloor. Their feeding methods vary, with some being predatory, consuming small organisms, while others are symbiotic, hosting photosynthetic algae within their tests. Reproduction can be asexual through binary fission or sexual involving the alternation of generations. The study of foraminifera, known as foraminiferology, provides valuable insights into marine ecology, oceanography, and Earth's history.