Saccamminidae

Top: Reflected-light image of three individuals of the species, showing size variation. The white color is caused by a very fine layer of sand particles (probably quartz) that the foram glues to its outer surface. Bottom: A slightly higher-magnification transmitted-light image, with the nucleus clearly visible. Length of this specimen: approximately 600 um. Image courtesy of Andrew J. Gooday, Southampton Oceanography Centre.

This image clearly shows the fine grains that make up the test surface. Inset: a closeup of the aperture. Image courtesy of Andrew J. Gooday, Southampton Oceanography Centre.

A closeup of the opening. Image courtesy of Elisabeth Alve, University of Oslo. Originally published in J. Foram. Res. 16: 261-284; used with permission.

"Lagena" is a Latin word meaning "flask". This flask-shaped foram was found in the Oslofjord, Norway. Image courtesy of Elisabeth Alve, University of Oslo. Originally published in J. Foram. Res. 16: 261-284; used with permission.

Astrammina species are spherical, with distinctive long apertural projections called stolons. This specimen has several apertures in a single stolon. Image courtesy of Elisabeth Alve, University of Oslo. Originally published in J. Foram. Res. 16: 261-284; used with permission.

This specimn was found attached to a surface, with a cooresponding change in the morphology of the stolon. Image courtesy of Elisabeth Alve, University of Oslo. Originally published in J. Foram. Res. 16: 261-284; used with permission.

Tholosina species attach to surfaces and build an agglutinated dome over the cell body. The dome is more "inflated" looking than the ones produced by their apparent relatives, the genus Hemisphaerammina. Image courtesy of Elisabeth Alve, University of Oslo. Originally published in J. Foram. Res. 16: 261-284; used with permission.

This view shows the inside of the dome-shaped test. Image courtesy of Elisabeth Alve, University of Oslo. Originally published in J. Foram. Res. 16: 261-284; used with permission.

This giant Antarctic foraminiferan is often several millimeters across. Notice the two large projections (called stolons. In this species, the reticulopodia emerge from the ends of the stolons. Image courtesy of Samuel S. Bowser, Wadsworth Center.

A live cell in its native environment. Notice that the foram has selected two discrete sizes of sand grains to make its test, and does not use the other sizes available to it. Photo courtesy of Robert Sanders. More information about this image is available at the McMurdo Sound Underwater Field Guide.

This darkfield image shows the reticulopodial network (blue fibers); the cell body is the dark circular mass at lower left. Image courtesy of Samuel S. Bowser, Wadsworth Center.

An SEM of part of the reticulopodial network. A. rara reticulopods are unusually strong, capable of trapping and rending juvenile arthropods and echinoderms. Image courtesy of Samuel S. Bowser, Wadsworth Center.