放射虫（Radiolarian）又名放线虫，为辐足超纲（Actinopoda），海中浮游生物，有如球形对称，带有硅壳，壳上有美丽的花纹。

身体内有膜质中央囊，囊面穿有许多小孔，将身体分为内外两部分，外部被胶状物质，多有液泡，内部有细胞核、液泡和赤、黄等色的油滴；通常均由身体中央射出针状骨棘，间或多数针状物相集成层或互相连络而成笼状，形状精细繁多；多以分裂法繁殖，也有以孢子繁殖的。

放射虫多产于热带海洋中，因为迅速的繁殖与过多的物种，是诊断化石的重要依据，可从寒武纪开始。

放射虫有很多针状伪足的支持，即所谓axopods，可承受放射虫的浮力。

The Radiolaria, also called Radiozoa, are protozoa of (diameter 0.1–0.2 mm) that produce intricate mineral skeletons, typically with a central capsule dividing the cell into the inner and outer portions of endoplasm and ectoplasm. They are found as zooplankton throughout the ocean, and their skeletal remains make up a large part of the cover of the ocean floor as siliceous ooze. Due to their rapid turn-over of species, they represent an important diagnostic fossil found from the Cambrian onwards. Some common radiolarian fossils include Actinomma, Heliosphaera and Hexadoridium.