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Go to the key ---INDEX--- Major Phyla
Go to the gallery General fossil discussion Geologic time

also called Kingdom EUCARYOTA
These are single celled organisms with well defined organelles, such as the nucleus, living singly or in colonies. The kingdom includes some ten phyla, several of which lack a good fossil record. These phyla, like those of the Procaryota Kingdom, include animals which are mostly microscopic. One phylum, the Protozoa, includes larger, macroscopic organisms, which have considerable importance as index fossils.

Phylum PROTOZOA

Class SARCODINA

Order FORAMINIFERA

Within the Foraminifera, two groups, the fusulinids and the nummulites, have been important geologically.

Family FUSULINIDAE
(the fusulininds)

The tests (shells) of fusulinids are small (up to 1 cm). They are football shaped and resemble fossilized grains of wheat or rice. They are particularly useful as index fossils of the Late Paleozoic, and became extinct at the end of this era.

THE NUMMULITES
(several families)

These are the largest of all foraminifera and some have tests (shells) the size of dinner plates. Their tests are generally discoidal (disk-shaped, vaguely like a coin). Taxonomically, they belong to several families. They are important for the zonation of the Late Mesozoic and the Cenozoic. They are a common fossil in the limestones of Florida. More on nummulites

Order RADIOLARIA

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Radiolarians are microscopic in size and many species are planktonic (free moving near the surface) Their remains settle to the ocean floor to make deep sea oozes.

also called Kingdom EUCARYOTA These are single celled organisms with well defined organelles, such as the nucleus, living singly or in colonies. The kingdom includes some ten phyla, several of which lack a good fossil record. These phyla, like those of the Procaryota Kingdom, include animals which are mostly microscopic. One phylum, the Protozoa, includes larger, macroscopic organisms, which have considerable importance as index fossils.
Phylum PROTOZOA
Class SARCODINA
Order FORAMINIFERA	Within the Foraminifera, two groups, the fusulinids and the nummulites, have been important geologically.
Family FUSULINIDAE (the fusulininds)	The tests (shells) of fusulinids are small (up to 1 cm). They are football shaped and resemble fossilized grains of wheat or rice. They are particularly useful as index fossils of the Late Paleozoic, and became extinct at the end of this era.
THE NUMMULITES (several families)	These are the largest of all foraminifera and some have tests (shells) the size of dinner plates. Their tests are generally discoidal (disk-shaped, vaguely like a coin). Taxonomically, they belong to several families. They are important for the zonation of the Late Mesozoic and the Cenozoic. They are a common fossil in the limestones of Florida. More on nummulites
Order RADIOLARIA	. . Radiolarians are microscopic in size and many species are planktonic (free moving near the surface) Their remains settle to the ocean floor to make deep sea oozes.