Radiolariën

Radiolariën, also known as Radiozoa, are a diverse group of single-celled protists belonging to the phylum Radiolaria. They are characterized by their intricate and beautiful silica exoskeletons, often referred to as tests. These tests exhibit a wide range of shapes and patterns, including spherical, stellate, and intricate latticework structures.

These organisms are exclusively marine and are planktonic, meaning they drift in the ocean currents. Radiolarians are heterotrophic, meaning they obtain nutrients by consuming other organisms. They typically capture food particles using their numerous, fine, needle-like pseudopods that extend through the pores in their tests.

The silica shells of radiolarians accumulate on the ocean floor after the organisms die, forming significant geological deposits known as radiolarian ooze. These fossil deposits are valuable for paleoceanographic research, providing insights into past ocean conditions and climate. Their complex skeletal structures have also made them a subject of study in fields like biomimetics and material science, inspiring the design of novel structures and materials. Reproduction in radiolarians can be asexual, through budding or fission, and in some species, sexual reproduction also occurs.