General Classification of

Microfossil
• Microscopic animal
• Microscopic Algae
• Bacteria
• Microfossil of uncertain effinities
• Microfossil elements of smaller animal
• Microfossil fragments of larger organism
 Microscopic Animal
• 1) Protozoa, Rhizopoda
• .a)Foraminifera
• .b) Radiolaria
• 2)Protozoa Infusoria
• .a) Calpionellidae
• 3) crustacea: Ostracoda
 Microscopic Algae
• 1) Flagellata
• .a) Cocolithaceae
• .b) sillcoflagellata
• .c) Dinoflagellata
• 2) Siliceous Algae(Bacillariales)
 Microfossil of uncertain effinities

• 1) Discoasteridae
• 2) Hyatrichosphaerida
• 3) Chitinozoa
• 4) Oligostegina
 Microfossil fragments of larger organism

• 1) sponge spicules
• 2) Alcyonarian
• 3) Pollen grains
• Diatoms
 Protozoa
• Historically, protozoa were defined as unicellular protists with animal-like
behaviour
• Greek root of the name, the singular form is protozoon protos=first,
zoon=animal)
• Protozoa commonly range in length between 10 to 52 micrometers, but
can grow as large as 1 mm. They are easily seen with a microscope. The
largest protozoa are known as deep-sea
• Protozoa were previously often grouped in the kingdom of Protista,
together with the plant-like algae and fungus-like slime molds. As a result
of 21st-century systematics, protozoa, along with ciliates, mastigophorans,
and apicomplexans, are arranged as animal-like protists. Protozoa are
unicellular organisms and are often called the animal-like protists because
they subsist entirely on other organisms for food
• Introduction Foraminifera
• Foraminifera are found in all marine environments, they may be planktic or benthic
in mode of lifeThe generally accepted classification of the foraminifera is based on
that of Loeblich and Tappan (1964). The Order Foraminiferida belongs to the
Kingdom Protista, Subkingdom Protozoa, Subphylum Sarcodina, Superclass
Rhizopoda, Class Granuloreticulosea
• History of Study
• The study of foraminifera has a long history, their first recorded "mention" is in Herodotus
(fifth century BC) who noted that the limestone of the Egyptian pyramids contained the
large benthic foraminifer Nummulites
• Range
• Foraminifera have a geological range from the earliest Cambrian to the present day
• Applications
• As previously mentioned, foraminifera have been utilised for biostratigraphy for many years
• In terms of biostratigraphy, foraminifera have become extremely useful, different forms have
shown evolutionary bursts at different periods and generally if one form is not available to
be utilised for biostratigraphy another

Classification
 Radiolarians
• The Radiolaria, also called Radiozoa, are protozoa of (diameter 0.1–
0.2 mm) that produce intricate mineral skeletons, typically with a
central capsule dividing the cell into the inner and outer portions
of endoplasm and ectoplasm. They are found
as zooplankton throughout the ocean, and their skeletal remains
make up a large part of the cover of the ocean floor as siliceous ooze.
Due to their rapid turn-over of species, they represent an
important diagnostic fossil found from the Cambrian onwards
• Radiolarians have many needle-like pseudopodia supported by
bundles of microtubules, which aid in the Radiolarian's buoyancy.
The cell nucleus and most other organelles are in the endoplasm,
while the ectoplasm is filled with frothy vacuoles and lipid droplets,
keeping them buoyant
 OSTRACODA
DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY OF OSTRACODS

Ostracods are: 1- pelagic (planktonic) by using organic-walled shell (less

2- benthic on/in the sea floor. They can burrow, swim

Benthic forms occur in all the aquatic environments from the abyss to the shoreline.
They also occur in estuaries, lagoons, freshwater lakes, ponds and streams, salt lakes,
hot springs, damp vegetation.
Based on: general shape, valves overlapping, presence of ornamentation, hige
characteristics and male and female structures. Ostracoda divided generally into five
main orders:
Order: Archaeocopida
Order: Leperditicopida
Order: Podocopida
Superfamily: Bairdiacea
Superfamily: Cypridacea
Superfamily: Cytheracea
Superfamily: Darwinulacea
Order: Myodocopida
Order: Palaeocopida
 Microscopic Algae
Flagellate
A flagellate is a cell or organism with one or more whip-like organelles called flagella.
The wordflagellate also describes a particular construction (or level of organization)
characteristic of many protists (eukaryotic organisms) and their means of motion. The
term presently does not imply any specific relationship or classification of the
organisms that possess flagellae. However, the term "flagellate" is included in other
terms (such as "dinoflagellate" and "choanoflagellata") which are more formally
characterized
 Dinoflagellate
• A . Geologic range: Silurian to Recent
• B . Composition: Organic material (sporopollenin)
• C . Size: 5 μm - 2 mm
• D . Significance:
• Cause red tides, secrete "paralytic shellfish poison", luminescence. An
integral part of the food chain (phytoplankton). Useful in biostratigraphy and
paleoenvironment interpretation.
• E . Morphology:
• Covered with a series of tiny plates, indentation around their equator that
held a coiled flagellum in life; shape variable, may resemble a top or a star; some
are covered with spines.
• F . Environment: Marine and freshwater; most planktonic. Others are symbionts
or parasites (zooxanthellae in corals).
 3) Bacteria
• Fossil bacteria has been found in oil shales,iron
ores.limestone,cherts,fossil plant remains,bones
and corpolites
• Living bacteria are distinguished by their
biological activity rather than according to
morphological feature
• The texonomic relation b/w the minute fossilised
bodies of bacteria and living forams remain
therefore obsecure but there is a abundunt
evidence of bacterial activity in the sedimentry
record of the earth
 5) Microfossil elements of smaller animal

• A) Animal
• Other miscroscopic animal remains occur in micropaleontological
prepartion

• These are.
• Small worm tubes and opercula
• Fragments of bryozoa
• Fish scales,teeth,bones fragments
• B) Plant

• Geologic ranges:
• Spores (from algae, fungi, mosses and ferns): Silurian to
recent
• Pollen from gymnosperms (conifers, ginkgoes):
pennsylvanian to recent
Composition: Orgnic material (sporopollenin)
size: 0.02 - 0.08 μm; some to 0.2 mm
• Significance: Useful in biostratigraphy, and
paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic interpretations
Morphology: Globular or spheroidal. Some pollen is
shaped like "Mickey mouse ears
Environment: Pollen and spores come from land plants.
Fossils are found icontinental and transitional
environments
 6)Microscopic fragments of larger organism
Diatoms
• A . Geologic range: Cretaceous to Recent
• B . Shell composition: Silica
• C . Size: Most are 0.05 - 0.02 mm (some up to 1 mm)
• D . Significance: Useful in biostratigraphy and
paleoenvironmental interpretation
Most abundant phytoplankton in the modern ocean.
• E . Morphology: "Pillbox" shape, consisting of two valves
(shells) which may be circular, triangular, or elongate.
Circular forms have radial ornamentation. Elongate forms
have transverse markings. They are covered with pores.
• F . Environment: Both marine and non-marine. Planktonic
or attached.
 Sponge Spicules
• (Sponges belong to the group Porifera)
• Sponge spicules are microscopic needle-like and multi-rayed
skeletal elements secreted by sponge cells. Some groups of
sponges secrete spicules of calcium carbonate and other groups
secrete spicules of silica, or organic fibers.
– A . Geologic range: Cambrian to Recent
– B . Composition: Calcareous or siliceous
– C . Size: varies
– D . Significance: Siliceous skeletons can accumulate to form chert
– E . Morphology: Shapes vary. but may be needle-like (monaxon or one
axis), three-pointed (triaxon), four-pointed (tetraxon), or shaped like a
jack (from the game of ball and jacks) with six radiating needle-like
points or rays (hexactine). May also be curved.
– F . Environment: Attached to sea floor (sessile benthos). Most are
marine.