Giant Single Celled Ocean Dwellers

Some of the largest organisms on the deep sea floor are actually made of only one single cell. These strange creatures, called Xenophyophores, grow up to ten inches wide while containing many nuclei within their solitary bodies.

While we usually think of cells as microscopic, these deep-sea giants break all the rules. They gather mineral particles from the ocean bottom to construct elaborate, armor-like shells that protect their massive singular bodies. You can find them living in complete darkness thousands of meters below the surface. They serve as a vital home for other tiny creatures, proving that you do not need complex tissues to become a master architect of the abyss.