- #1
matthyaouw
Gold Member
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I have recently learned that single celled foraminiferas such as nummulites are capable of growing tests upto 160mm across. Can anyone suggest what advantage such a large test would provide for a cingle celled organism? One thing that really puzzles me is why the organism devotes the energy to creating so many new body chambers, when one is barely bigger than the last. Having so many body chambers of such similar size is not common in all foraminiferans, so why in nummulites?
I have tried to google this, however all I am able to find is basic descriptions of the species, and things about nummulitic limestones and palaeoclimatological evidence gathered from foraminiferans.
Below is a picture of a nummulite:
http://www.ut.ee/BGGM/eluareng/foramin3.jpg
(Fact of the moment: The great pyramids of giza are constructed almost entirely from fossil nummulites)
I have tried to google this, however all I am able to find is basic descriptions of the species, and things about nummulitic limestones and palaeoclimatological evidence gathered from foraminiferans.
Below is a picture of a nummulite:
http://www.ut.ee/BGGM/eluareng/foramin3.jpg
(Fact of the moment: The great pyramids of giza are constructed almost entirely from fossil nummulites)