Multicellular-like compartmentalization of cytoplast in fossil larger foraminifera |
| |
Authors: | Carles Ferr ndez-Ca adell |
| |
Affiliation: | Carles Ferrà,ndez-Cañ,adell |
| |
Abstract: | Foraminifera are usually between 0.1 and 1 mm in size, thus falling within the range of the largest eukaryotic cells. However, some fossil and extant foraminiferal species reach diameters of more than 100 mm. One hypothesis of how these gigantic sizes could have been attained by these unicellular organisms is the temporary compartmentalization of cytoplasm into smaller volumes of effective metabolism, as reported for several recent species. Evidence of this phenomenon is shown in fossil genera of larger foraminifera belonging to five families of Cretaceous to Oligocene age. Alternative interpretations are discussed. |
| |
Keywords: | Cell Size Eocene Foraminifera Lepidocyclinids Oligocene Orbitoids Organic Lining Orthophragminids Upper Cretaceous |
本文献已被 InformaWorld 等数据库收录! |