Tintinnida
| Tintinnids | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| (unranked): | SAR |
| (unranked): | Alveolata |
| Phylum: | Ciliophora |
| Class: | Spirotrichea |
| Subclass: | Choreotrichia |
| Order: |
Tintinnida Kofoid & Campbell, 1929 |
Tintinnids are ciliates of the choreotrich taxon Tintinnida, distinguished by vase-shaped shells, the name deriving from a Latin source meaning a small tinkling bell, that are called loricae, which are mostly protein but may incorporate minute pieces of minerals.
Fossils resembling tintinnid loricas in shape and size, Calpionellids, appear as early as the Ordovician period but are formed of calcite and as no extant ciliate taxa forms calcite shells they are unlikely to be tintinnids and probably not ciliates at all. Fossils which can be reliably related to extant tintinnids (e.g. fossils of aggultinated lorica) are in the fossil record during the Jurassic but do not become abundant until the Cretaceous. Tintinnids are an important part of the fossil record because of the rarity with which most other ciliates become preserved under the conditions of the marine environment. The loricae of some tintinnids are easily preserved, giving them a relatively good fossil record.
Tintinnid loricas or shells show an amazing variety of styles. They were among the many planktonic microorganisms featured in Ernst's Haeckel's classic work popularizing the beauty of the natural world "Art forms in Nature" (Kunstformen der Natur).
Like other protists, tintinnids are complex single-celled eukaryotic organisms. Tintinnids are heterotrophic aquatic organisms. They feed primarily on photosynthetic algae and bacteria. They are part of the microzooplankton (between 20 and 200 micrometres in size). Tintinnids are found in marine and freshwaters. However, they are most common in salt water and are usually present in concentrations of about 100 a liter but can reach abundances of several thousand per litre. Characteristics of their lorica, or shells, are classically used to distinguish the roughly 1000 species described. However, in recent years application of histological and molecular techniques have led to many taxonomic revisions.
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