Astrammina Rhumbler 1931

This giant Antarctic foraminiferan is often several millimeters across. Notice the two large projections (called stolons. In this species, the reticulopodia emerge from the ends of the stolons. Image courtesy of Samuel S. Bowser, Wadsworth Center.

A live cell in its native environment. Notice that the foram has selected two discrete sizes of sand grains to make its test, and does not use the other sizes available to it. Photo courtesy of Robert Sanders. More information about this image is available at the McMurdo Sound Underwater Field Guide.

This darkfield image shows the reticulopodial network (blue fibers); the cell body is the dark circular mass at lower left. Image courtesy of Samuel S. Bowser, Wadsworth Center.

An SEM of part of the reticulopodial network. A. rara reticulopods are unusually strong, capable of trapping and rending juvenile arthropods and echinoderms. Image courtesy of Samuel S. Bowser, Wadsworth Center.