Miliolida

Miliolida
Miliolida
Temporal range: Carboniferous - Recent
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Protista
Phylum: Rhizaria
Class: Foraminifera
Order: Miliolida
Superfamilies

Cornuspiracea
Miliolacea
Soritacea
Squamulinacea

Miliolida is an order of protists which comprise foraminifera with calcareous, porcelacous tests that are imperforate and commonly have a pseudochitinous lining. (Loeblick and Tappen, 1964). Tests are composed of randomly oriented calcite needles that have a high proportion of magnesium along with organic material. Tests lack pores and generally have multiple chambers.

Miliolids, which range from the Carboniferous to Recent, are benthic foraminifera abundant in shallow waters such as in estuaries and along coastlines, though they also include deep water oceanic forms.

The Order Miliolida, sometimes referred to as a suborder, the Miliolina, is divided on the basis of differences in test morphology into five recognized superfamilies.

References