{"id":24630,"date":"2020-05-05T05:54:31","date_gmt":"2020-05-05T05:54:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/?page_id=24630"},"modified":"2021-09-09T12:27:34","modified_gmt":"2021-09-09T12:27:34","slug":"foraminifera","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/foraminifera\/","title":{"rendered":"Foraminifera"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t\t<section class=\"hero-section hero-section-with-social\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hero-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1>Foraminifera<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Discovering Geology &mdash; Fossils and geological time<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"social-wrap social-wrap-inline-them\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sea-background-f\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Share this article<\/span><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/foraminifera\/\"><span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span class=\"hidden\">Facebook<\/span><\/span><\/a><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Foraminifera&#038;url=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/foraminifera\/\"><span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span class=\"hidden\">Twitter<\/span><\/span><\/a><a   onclick=\"javascript:void( (function() {var e=document.createElement('script' );e.setAttribute('type','text\/javascript' );e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8' );e.setAttribute('src','\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());\"  href=\"javascript:void(0);\"><span class=\"icon-pinterest\"><span class=\"hidden\">Pinterest<\/span><\/span><\/a><a target=\"_blank\"  href=\"https:\/\/wa.me?text=https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/foraminifera\/\"><span class=\"icon-whatsapp\"><span class=\"hidden\">WhatsApp<\/span><\/span><\/a><a   href=\"mailto:?subject=Foraminifera&#038;body=%20(https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/foraminifera\/)\"><span class=\"icon-mail\"><span class=\"hidden\">Email<\/span><\/span><\/a><a href=\"#\" data-copy=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/foraminifera\/\" class=\"copy-url-on-click\"><span class=\"icon-link\"><span class=\"hidden\">Copy Link<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-bgs-blocks-content-container content-section\"><div class=\"container\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n<p>Foraminifera are amoeba-like, single-celled&nbsp;protists&nbsp;(very simple micro-organisms). They have been called &#8216;armoured amoebae&#8217; because they secrete a tiny shell (or &#8216;test&#8217;) usually between about a half and one millimetre long. They get their name from the foramen, an opening or tube that interconnects all the chambers of the test. Fossilised tests are found in sediments as old as the earliest Cambrian (about 545 million years ago) and foraminifera can still be found in abundance today, living in marine and brackish waters.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Foraminifera-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"Elphidium liodense Cushman from the Quaternary of the Dovey Estruary, Wales.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Foraminifera.jpg\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p><em>Elphidium liodense<\/em> (Cushman) from the Quaternary of the Dovey Estuary, Wales. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<ul><li><a href=\"#biology\">Biology<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#environment\">Environment<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#geologist\">The geologists\u2019 tool<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#myth\">Myths and legends<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#3d-fossil\">3D fossil models<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"biology\">Biology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The tests of many foraminfera are made of aragonite or calcite, when the shell may be milky white (porcelaneous taxa), grey (microgranular taxa) or glassy (hyaline taxa). The tests of forminifera called allogromiids is made out of tectin, which is a soft and flexible organic material. Other foraminiferal tests are composed of organic matter, together with agglutinated particles of sand, silt or occasionally echinoid spines, radiolaria (protists with tests made of silica) or diatoms (a type of algae) cemented together with calcite or silica. <\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"owl-carousel carousel-primary-color carousel owl-theme thumbs-carousel-js\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/P549475_1332x690.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Cross-sections of foraminiferal walls (highly magnified) showing the different structures.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Top left: agglutinated wall made of cemented sand grains (textulariids); top right: microgranular wall made of granular calcite crystals (fusulinids); bottom left: porcelaneous wall made of three layers of calcite (miliolids); bottom right: hyaline wall made of calcite or aragonite crystals (rotaliids and robertinids). BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_20724\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/P549475_1332x690-960x497.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Cross sections of foraminiferal walls (highly magnified) showing the different structures). Agglutinated wall made of cemented sand grains (top left) (textulariids). Microgranular wall made of granular calcite crystals (top right) (fusulinids). Porcelaneous wall made of three layers of calcite (bottom left) (miliolids). Hyaline wall made of calcite or aragonite crystals (bottom right) (rotaliids and robertinids).\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Cross-sections of foraminiferal walls (highly magnified) showing the different structures.<\/p>\n<p>Top left: agglutinated wall made of cemented sand grains (textulariids); top right: microgranular wall made of granular calcite crystals (fusulinids); bottom left: porcelaneous wall made of three layers of calcite (miliolids); bottom right: hyaline wall made of calcite or aragonite crystals (rotaliids and robertinids). BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/P549475_1332x690.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Cross-sections of foraminiferal walls (highly magnified) showing the different structures.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Top left: agglutinated wall made of cemented sand grains (textulariids); top right: microgranular wall made of granular calcite crystals (fusulinids); bottom left: porcelaneous wall made of three layers of calcite (miliolids); bottom right: hyaline wall made of calcite or aragonite crystals (rotaliids and robertinids). BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_20724\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/P549477_1332x690.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;An imaginary planispiral foraminifer with some of the different kinds of ornament, broken to show the internal structure. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_20724\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/P549477_1332x690-960x497.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"An imaginary planispiral foraminifer with some of the different kinds of ornament, and broken to show the internal structure.\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>An imaginary planispiral foraminifer with some of the different kinds of ornament, broken to show the internal structure. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/P549477_1332x690.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;An imaginary planispiral foraminifer with some of the different kinds of ornament, broken to show the internal structure. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_20724\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Types of test<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p> The test, which is the part that is preserved as a fossil, can take many different shapes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Simple tests<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>In some types of foraminifera, the chambers are added in a spiral and take a number of forms. The simplest is a sphere or a tube with an aperture (an opening) at one end: these are known as tubular. Chambers may be added in a single row, like a string of beads (uniserial). Those with two rows of chambers are called biserial and those with three rows, triserial. <\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Foraminifera_chambers_1332x690.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Examples of simple tests.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Top left: tubular &lt;em data-rich-text-format-boundary=&quot;true&quot;&gt;Rhizammina&lt;\/em&gt;; bottom left: uniserial &lt;em&gt;Nodosaria&lt;\/em&gt;;&lt;em&gt; c&lt;\/em&gt;entre: biserial &lt;em&gt;Loxostomum&lt;\/em&gt;; right:\u00a0triserial &lt;em data-rich-text-format-boundary=&quot;true&quot;&gt;Bulimina&lt;\/em&gt;. BGS \u00a9UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_80965\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Foraminifera_chambers_1332x690-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"In some types of foraminifera, the chambers are added in a spiral and take a number of forms. The simplest is a sphere or a tube with an aperture (an opening) at one end: Tubular Rhizammina (top left). Chambers may be added in a single row, like a string of beads (uniserial): Uniserial Nodosaria (bottom left). Two rows of chambers (biserial): Biserial Loxostomum (centre). Three rows (triserial): Triserial Bulimina (far right).\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Foraminifera_chambers_1332x690-960x497.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Examples of simple tests.<\/p>\n<p>Top left: tubular <em data-rich-text-format-boundary=\"true\">Rhizammina<\/em>; bottom left: uniserial <em>Nodosaria<\/em>;<em> c<\/em>entre: biserial <em>Loxostomum<\/em>; right:\u00a0triserial <em data-rich-text-format-boundary=\"true\">Bulimina<\/em>. BGS \u00a9UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Foraminifera_chambers_1332x690.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Examples of simple tests.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Top left: tubular &lt;em data-rich-text-format-boundary=&quot;true&quot;&gt;Rhizammina&lt;\/em&gt;; bottom left: uniserial &lt;em&gt;Nodosaria&lt;\/em&gt;;&lt;em&gt; c&lt;\/em&gt;entre: biserial &lt;em&gt;Loxostomum&lt;\/em&gt;; right:\u00a0triserial &lt;em data-rich-text-format-boundary=&quot;true&quot;&gt;Bulimina&lt;\/em&gt;. BGS \u00a9UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_80965\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spiral tests<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>In some types of foraminifera, the chambers are added in a spiral and take a number of forms. Planispiral tests look like a Catherine wheel whilst trochospiral tests are like a tiny snail. In streptospiral tests, each chamber is half a whorl.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ChamberTypes_2_1332x690.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Examples of spiral tests.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Left: planspiral &lt;em&gt;Cornuspira&lt;\/em&gt;; centre: trochospiral &lt;em&gt;Asterigerinata&lt;\/em&gt;; right: streptospiral &lt;em&gt;Quinqueloculina&lt;\/em&gt;. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_64416\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ChamberTypes_2_1332x690-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"In some types of foraminifera, the chambers are added in a spiral and take a number of forms. Planispiral, like a Catherine wheel: Planispiral Cornuspira (left). Trochospiral, like a tiny snail: Trochospiral Asterigerinata (centre). Streptospiral, where each chamber is half a whorl: Streptospiral Quinqueloculina (right).\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ChamberTypes_2_1332x690-960x497.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Examples of spiral tests.<\/p>\n<p>Left: planspiral <em>Cornuspira<\/em>; centre: trochospiral <em>Asterigerinata<\/em>; right: streptospiral <em>Quinqueloculina<\/em>. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ChamberTypes_2_1332x690.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Examples of spiral tests.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Left: planspiral &lt;em&gt;Cornuspira&lt;\/em&gt;; centre: trochospiral &lt;em&gt;Asterigerinata&lt;\/em&gt;; right: streptospiral &lt;em&gt;Quinqueloculina&lt;\/em&gt;. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_64416\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Complex tests<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>In some types of foraminifera the chambers are complex. Sometimes they can combine different test types.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ComplexChambers_1332x690.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Examples of complex tests.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Left: globular &lt;em&gt;Lagena&lt;\/em&gt;; right: globular and trochospiral &lt;em&gt;Globigerina&lt;\/em&gt;. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_30870\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ComplexChambers_1332x690-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"In some types of foraminifera the chambers are complex. Globular Lagena (left). Globular, trochospiral Globigerina (right).\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ComplexChambers_1332x690-960x497.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Examples of complex tests.<\/p>\n<p>Left: globular <em>Lagena<\/em>; right: globular and trochospiral <em>Globigerina<\/em>. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/ComplexChambers_1332x690.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Examples of complex tests.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Left: globular &lt;em&gt;Lagena&lt;\/em&gt;; right: globular and trochospiral &lt;em&gt;Globigerina&lt;\/em&gt;. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_30870\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Test formation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The last chamber of the test has one or more small openings called apertures. The proloculus is the first chamber of the test. It is small when the foraminifera has formed by sexual reproduction, but large when reproduction has been asexual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The living foraminifera<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Protoplasm, the soft, jelly-like material that forms the living cell of a foraminifera, extrudes through the aperture to engulf the test of the living organism. The protoplasm on the outside of the test makes long filaments, which are used for locomotion and capturing food particles. Inside the test, the protoplasm is where the food is ingested and where the nucleus of the cell is found. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Foraminifera feed on diatoms, algae, bacteria and detritus. <\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"owl-carousel carousel-primary-color carousel owl-theme thumbs-carousel-js\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Heterostegina_depressa.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Heterostegina depressa&lt;\/em&gt; during chamber formation. Note the protoplasm extruded into long filaments. \u00a9 R Rottger.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_39906\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Heterostegina_depressa.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Heterostegina depressa during chamber formation. Note the protoplasm extruded into long filaments.\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p><em>Heterostegina depressa<\/em> during chamber formation. Note the protoplasm extruded into long filaments. \u00a9 R Rottger.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Heterostegina_depressa.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Heterostegina depressa&lt;\/em&gt; during chamber formation. Note the protoplasm extruded into long filaments. \u00a9 R Rottger.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_39906\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Heterostegina_depressa_and_Amphistegina_lessoni.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Heterostegina depressa&lt;\/em&gt; (2.4mm\u00a0across) and &lt;em&gt;Amphistegina lessoni&lt;\/em&gt; (1.3 mm) living on weeds in a rock pool in Hawaii. \u00a9 R Rottger.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_39906\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Heterostegina_depressa_and_Amphistegina_lessoni.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Heterostegina depressa (2.4mm across) and Amphistegina lessoni (1.3 mm) living on weeds in a rock pool in Hawaii.\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p><em>Heterostegina depressa<\/em> (2.4mm\u00a0across) and <em>Amphistegina lessoni<\/em> (1.3 mm) living on weeds in a rock pool in Hawaii. \u00a9 R Rottger.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Heterostegina_depressa_and_Amphistegina_lessoni.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Heterostegina depressa&lt;\/em&gt; (2.4mm\u00a0across) and &lt;em&gt;Amphistegina lessoni&lt;\/em&gt; (1.3 mm) living on weeds in a rock pool in Hawaii. \u00a9 R Rottger.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_39906\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Peneroplis_pertusus.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Peneroplis pertusus&lt;\/em&gt; reproducing by division to form many small juveniles. These will grow to produce the next generation. Although they formed asexually, they will, in their turn, reproduce sexually; sexual and asexual reproduction alternates. Juveniles are about 0.1 mm across. \u00a9 R Rottger.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_39906\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Peneroplis_pertusus.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Peneroplis pertusus, reproducing by division to form many small juveniles. These will grow to produce the next generation. Although they formed asexually, they will, in their turn, reproduce sexually; sexual and asexual reproduction alternates. Juveniles are about 0.1 mm across.\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p><em>Peneroplis pertusus<\/em> reproducing by division to form many small juveniles. These will grow to produce the next generation. Although they formed asexually, they will, in their turn, reproduce sexually; sexual and asexual reproduction alternates. Juveniles are about 0.1 mm across. \u00a9 R Rottger.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Peneroplis_pertusus.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Peneroplis pertusus&lt;\/em&gt; reproducing by division to form many small juveniles. These will grow to produce the next generation. Although they formed asexually, they will, in their turn, reproduce sexually; sexual and asexual reproduction alternates. Juveniles are about 0.1 mm across. \u00a9 R Rottger.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_39906\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"environment\">Environment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The most important factors that control living foraminifera are salinity and temperature, but other things like the substrate (weed, rock, silt, mud, sand, etc.), the amount of light and the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water are important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many foraminifera that live in river estuaries and coastal waters are hyaline (e.g.&nbsp;<em>Elphidium<\/em>) or agglutinated types. In shelf seas, the porcelaneous species (such as&nbsp;<em>Quinqueloculina<\/em>) become more numerous. In the deep seas, agglutinated forms predominate, mixed with the dead tests of planktonic species (e.g.&nbsp;<em>Globigerina<\/em>) that live near the surface of the ocean waters and rain down to the ocean floor on death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Foraminifera that lived in the geological past were also controlled by the environment. Fossil foraminifera can be used to identify the conditions in which the enclosing sediments accumulated. We can use them to recognise, for example: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>glacial and warm episodes during the Quaternary<\/li><li>changes in salinity in the Cretaceous<\/li><li>variations in the oxygen content of the water in the Jurassic<\/li><li>sea level oscillations during the Carboniferous<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These are foraminifera from different geological periods, as if seen down a microscope. All are between 0.5 and 1&nbsp;mm long except the abyssal species that can grow up to several centimetres.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"owl-carousel carousel-primary-color carousel owl-theme thumbs-carousel-js\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Agglutinated_foraminifera.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Present day, agglutinated foraminifera live on the abyssal sea floor (4000 metres deep). Bathysiphon (bottom), Astorhiza (left) and Rhabdammina (right).\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Present day, agglutinated foraminifera live on the abyssal sea floor (4000 m deep). Bottom: <em>Bathysiphon<\/em>; left:\u00a0<em>Astorhiza<\/em>; right: <em>Rhabdammina<\/em>. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Quaternary_miliolid.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Quaternary miliolid, Quinqueloculina (left) and rotaliid Elphidium (right) lived on weeds in Arctic shallow marine waters.\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>In the Quaternary, the miliolid <em>Quinqueloculina<\/em> (left) and rotaliid <em>Elphidium<\/em> (right) lived on weeds in Arctic, shallow-marine waters. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Uvigerina_Gryoidinoides_Cibicidoides.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Uvigerina (left), Gryoidinoides (centre) and Cibicidoides (right) lived in bathyal waters of the Palaeogene.\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p><em>Uvigerina<\/em> (left), <em>Gryoidinoides<\/em> (centre) and <em>Cibicidoides<\/em> (right) lived in bathyal waters in the Palaeogene. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Planktonic_foraminifera.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Planktonic foraminifera lived in the photic zone (less than 200 metres deep), near the ocean surface during the late Cretaceous. Globotruncana (left), Globigerinelloides (bottom) and Heterohelix (right).\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Planktonic foraminifera lived in the photic zone (less than 200 m deep), near the ocean surface, during the late Cretaceous. Left: <em>Globotruncana<\/em>; bottom:\u00a0<em>Globigerinelloides<\/em>; right:\u00a0<em>Heterohelix<\/em>. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Hyaline_Marginulina_Frondicularia.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Early Jurassic, hyaline Marginulina (left) and Frondicularia (right) lived in shallow marine waters of the continental shelf.\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Early Jurassic, hyaline <em>Marginulina<\/em> (left) and <em>Frondicularia<\/em> (right) lived in the shallow-marine waters of the continental shelf. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Agglutinated_Ammodiscus_Ammovertella.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Late Carboniferous agglutinated Ammodiscus (top) and Ammovertella (bottom) lived in brackish estuarine water.\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Late Carboniferous, agglutinated <em>Ammodiscus<\/em> (top) and <em>Ammovertella<\/em> (bottom) lived in brackish, estuarine water. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"geologist\">The geologists\u2019 tool<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The stratigraphical range of some foraminiferal species is very short and they can be used to give a relative age to the rocks in which they are found. The rocks can be assigned to foraminifera zones, which equate with periods of time. Zones may vary in length from a few thousand to several million years. They allow correlation of geographically separate rocks, which is very important when making geological maps, exploring for oil or gas and building large civil engineering projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>More information about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/download\/foraminifera-evolution\/\">foraminifera evolution<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"myth\">Myths and legends<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Foraminifera were first discovered about 2000 years ago! The pyramids in Gizeh, Egypt, are in part built out of a Palaeogene limestone which contains huge numbers of&nbsp;<em>Nummulites gizehensis,<\/em>&nbsp;a large foraminifera that grew to several centimetres across.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Strabo (64&nbsp;BC to AD&nbsp;25), who came from Asia Minor but lived most of his life in Greece, wrote about these fossils, although he did not realise what they were. <\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t<blockquote id=\"quote-9689-block_5ea6d541d8fa3\" class=\"quote  \" >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quote-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/quote-caption.svg\" alt=\"Speech marks icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quote-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>There are heaps of stone chips lying in front of the pyramids and among them are found chips that are like lentils both in form and size; and under some of the heaps lie winnowings, as it were, of half-peeled grains. They say that what was left of the food of the workment has petrified and this is not improbable.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Strabo 17.1.34<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Nummulites_gizehensis-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"Nummulites gizehensis, Strabro&#039;s &#039;lentil&#039;: this magnified example is 2.8 centimetres in diameter but only 2 millimetres thick.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Nummulites_gizehensis.jpg\" \/><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p><em>Nummulites gizehensis<\/em>, Strabro&#8217;s &#8216;lentil&#8217;: this magnified example is 2.8 cm in diameter but only 2 mm thick. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"3d-fossil wp-block-heading\" id=\"3d-fossil\">3D fossil models<\/h2>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/P851397_1332x690.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Spirillina groomii&lt;\/em&gt; Chapman. (Triassic, Rhaetian). BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_45161\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/P851397_1332x690-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"Spirillina_groomii. (OUM H.00002\/p(10) \u2013 Syntype). Rhaetian Age (Triassic Period) (201.3 \u2013 209.5 Ma B.P.) See 3D fossils online. GB3D Type Fossils.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/P851397_1332x690-960x497.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption sm-line\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p><em>Spirillina groomii<\/em> Chapman. (Triassic, Rhaetian). BGS \u00a9 UKRI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/P851397_1332x690.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Spirillina groomii&lt;\/em&gt; Chapman. (Triassic, Rhaetian). BGS \u00a9 UKRI.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_45161\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Many of the fossils in the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/geological-data\/national-geological-repository\/palaeontology-collections\/\">BGS palaeontology collections<\/a>&nbsp;are available to view and download as 3D models. To view this fossil, or others like it, in 3D visit <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.3d-fossils.ac.uk\/home.html\" target=\"_blank\">GB3D Type Fossils<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reference<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Wilkinson, I P. 1997. Foraminifera: fossil focus. (Nottingham, UK: British Geological Survey.)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<section   id=\"latest-content-1982-block_5ed525a755c07\" class=\"grid-section  primary-background   \" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row header-of-section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>You may also be interested in<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row grid-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/feature_homepage_p815563-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Ammonite p815563\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/feature_homepage_p815563.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/\">Discovering Geology<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Discovering Geology introduces a range of geoscience topics to school-age students and learners of all ages.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/fishThroughTime-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"fishThroughTime\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/fishThroughTime.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/\">Fossils and geological time<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Take a look at the history of the Earth, from its formation over four and a half billion years ago to present times.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-6 col-12\">\n\t<div class=\"cards cards-orizontal-sm  cards-find-more  cards-bordered\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/fossils\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/P550300-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"P550300\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/P550300.jpg\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/fossils\/\">Fossils<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>What is a fossil and why do we study them? Explore the different methods of fossil preservation.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/discovering-geology\/fossils-and-geological-time\/fossils\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":76823,"parent":16685,"menu_order":21,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"37463,10218,7260,37410,34330,33220","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Foraminifera - British Geological Survey<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Foraminifera (formally called Foraminiferida) are amoeba-like, single-celled protists (very simple micro-organisms). 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