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Protists

> Acritarchs | Ciliates | Dinoflagellates | Foraminifera | Radiolarians | Diatoms | Green Algae | Red Algae | Kelps and Brown Algae | Silicoflagellates | Calcareous Nannoplankton | Other Protists

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(13 total)

Cibicides fortunatus
Cibicides fortunatus
© 2004 Karen Wetmore, University of California Museum of Paleontology

Parvicingula sp.
Parvicingula sp.
© 2009 Instituto de Geología, UNAM

Pantanellium sp.
Pantanellium sp.
© 2009 Instituto de Geología, UNAM

What are Protists? The term “protist” refers to any eukaryote that is not a plant, animal, or fungus. Most protists are unicellular, while others are multicellular or even multinucleate (many nuclei in one cell). Some live as single individuals, others as colonies. This diverse group exhibits a wide variety of sizes, shapes, life cycles, habitats, and feeding and reproductive strategies. The protists have a long, although in some cases patchy, fossil record stretching back to the Precambrian.

First known fossil occurrence: Precambrian.

Last known fossil occurrence: Quaternary. This group has living relatives.

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