foraminifera
/fəˌræməˈnɪfərə/
noun
- Tiny sea creatures that have a hard shell with many small holes, often used by scientists to study ancient climates and find oil.
- The limestone cliffs are full of fossilized foraminifera from millions of years ago.
- Scientists study foraminifera in ocean sediment to learn about past temperatures.
- Oil companies examine foraminifera to locate underground petroleum deposits.