Phylum: Protozoa
The phylum Protozoa belongs to the kingdom Protista. Protozoa are one-celled organisms. They include amobea and foraminifers such as fusulinids, and are commonly microscopic. Protozoans are are divided into four classes.
Class Flagellata
cell wall has fixed shape; locomotion by use of flagellae (long whiplike projections)
Class Sporozoa
parasitic; fixed cell wall; no hard parts
Class Ciliata
Shaped cell wall covered by short threadlike processes (cilia)
Class Sarcodina
Small marine organisms common during the Pennsylvanian and Permian Periods. They became extinct at the end of the Permian Period. Fusulinds were single-celled organisms, about the size of a grain of wheat or rice. Because this single cell had to perform all of the basic life functions -- feeding, digestion, reproduction, locomotion -- it was very complex. Externally, it had a hard carbonate shell. Internally, it was divided into a series of chambers or tests. As a matter of fact, the only way to identify fusulinids to the genus level is to cut a cross-section and examine them under magnification.
Class Flagellata
cell wall has fixed shape; locomotion by use of flagellae (long whiplike projections)
Class Sporozoa
parasitic; fixed cell wall; no hard parts
Class Ciliata
Shaped cell wall covered by short threadlike processes (cilia)
Class Sarcodina
Small marine organisms common during the Pennsylvanian and Permian Periods. They became extinct at the end of the Permian Period. Fusulinds were single-celled organisms, about the size of a grain of wheat or rice. Because this single cell had to perform all of the basic life functions -- feeding, digestion, reproduction, locomotion -- it was very complex. Externally, it had a hard carbonate shell. Internally, it was divided into a series of chambers or tests. As a matter of fact, the only way to identify fusulinids to the genus level is to cut a cross-section and examine them under magnification.