Morphological and Molecular Investigations Into the Diversity and Life History of Uncultivable Foraminifera

While foraminifera are recognized for their diverse and often complex life cycles, many remain poorly characterized, and fundamental aspects of their biology are still largely not understood. Here, we report an observation of a “naked” foram from marine samples, an unusual finding given that naked forms are predominantly associated with freshwater environments, challenging conventional classifications. Although we have not yet pinpointed the precise identity of the organism, our findings suggest that we may be observing an overlooked life stage of a known marine foram, such as Shepheardella. In parallel, we explored the possibility of germline-soma distinctions in foraminifera by performing whole genome amplification and read mapping on three cultured species. We consistently recovered the same highly covered genes across miliolid cells, suggesting non-random genome organization and possible differential amplification or expression. These results underscore not only the diversity of forams, but also the complexity and plasticity of foraminiferal biology, reflecting a broader theme across microbial eukaryotes: that life cycles and genome processes often defy textbook expectations. Continued study of these organisms is essential for understanding the full spectrum of eukaryotic diversity.