Radiolarian protozoan. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the shell (test) of an unidentified radiolarian protozoan. This is a single-cell

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Radiolarian protozoan. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the shell (test) of an unidentified radiolarian protozoan. This is a single-celled organism that forms part of the marine plankton. It builds this silicon-rich skeleton around itself for protection and support. It captures its prey, other single-celled organisms, by extending pseudopodia (false legs) of cell cytoplasm through the holes in its skeleton. Plankton forms the basis of most marine ecosystems. Magnification unknown.

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Size: 4500px × 3961px
Photo credit: © STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, coloured, invertebrate, invertebrates, nature, plankton, planktonic, protozoa, protozoan, radiolaria, radiolarian, sem, test, wildlife, zoology