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Glite Dictionary
Radiolaria

Radiolaria

9.9
Tiny single-celled living things in the sea with glass-like skeletons that float as plankton
  • noun
  • /ˌreɪdiəˈlɛəriə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Radiolaria
  • Scientists use the unique skeletons of Radiolaria to study past ocean conditions.

Examples

  • Samples revealed a high diversity of Radiolaria in the plankton community.

  • Many Radiolaria species have beautiful mineral skeletons.

  • The shells of Radiolaria collect on the ocean floor as siliceous ooze.

  • The Radiolaria are fascinating organisms.

  • Researchers discovered a variety of Radiolaria during their sampling of oceanic plankton.

  • The intricate mineral skeletons of Radiolaria are important for understanding marine ecosystems.

  • In marine studies, scientists often analyze the fossilized remains of Radiolaria found in sediment.

Synonyms

radiolarian
vsRadiolaria
  • Specialized
9.9

A tiny single-celled sea animal with a glass-like skeleton and thin arms

is the broader planktonic group noted for intricate mineral skeletons
Actinopoda
vsRadiolaria
  • Archaic
9.9

Single-celled water animals with long thin arms that help them move and eat

is narrower and refers to planktonic marine forms with intricate mineral skeletons

Surface Forms

Radiolaria singular
Radiolarias plural

Etymology

Radiolaria comes from the root radio- meaning 'ray' or 'spoke', like the spokes of a wheel, because these tiny sea creatures have shells that spread out in rays. That's why Radiolaria refers to microscopic marine cells with star-like, ray-shaped skeletons.