Cladococcus viminalis

Cladococcus viminalis is a species of radiolarians.^[1]

Cladococcus viminalis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
(unranked):	SAR
(unranked):	Rhizaria
Phylum:	Retaria
Subphylum:	Radiolaria
Class:	Polycystinea
Order:	Spumellaria
Family:	Actinommidae
Genus:	Cladococcus
Species:	C. viminalis
Binomial name
Cladococcus viminalis Haeckel, 1860

Anatomy

This radiolarian, like all other radiolarians, can produce extremely complex silica tests of pores and spines that are laid down in an obvious geometric shape. The spines give this species buoyancy, while the pores provide a way for cell material called pseudopodia to escape this species's body. The pseudopodia engulf any food that gets trapped on the spines and carry it to the middle of the cell to be digested. This species is also a polycystine radiolarian.

Habitat

This species can be found in the Mediterranean Sea, near the surface of the ocean, in the fjords of Norway, and in the central Pacific Ocean.^[1][2][3] It is one of the most commonly fossilized radiolarian, frequently discovered in limestone and chalk rocks.