foraminifera

pl. [Lat. foramen (gen it. for am in is ) =a hole, an opening, an aperture, and fero to bear. So named from their perforated shells. (See def.)] the Foraminifera thus: Sub-order I.-Imp erf or at a. Families: (1) Gromida, (2) Miliolida, (3) Lituolida. Sub-order II.-Per for at a. Families: (1) Lagenida, (2) Globi ger i nid a, and (3) Nummulinida. 2. Palæont .: The exceedingly antique Eozoon of the Lauren tian rocks, if organic, as it is generally believed to be, was apparently a Foraminifer. Forms more unequivocal, some of them very like recent species, occur in the Silurian, the Carboniferous, and other strata. They are found through all the Secondary period, chalk being almost entirely composed of their cases. [1.] They increase in number and importance in the Tertiary. The Nummulites of the Middle Eocene are foraminiferous animals. The type of the order has remained wonderfully constant from the earliest times till now. for-ă-min-if-er-al, a. [Eng., ., foraminifer; al.] The same as FORAMINIFEROUS (q. v.). for-ă-min-if-er-ous, a. iferous.] [Eng., ., for am in Zoology : Provided with foramina; belonging to or in any way connected with the Foraminifera (q. v.).