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SEM and TEM observations of up to x100,000 magnification were performed on the skeletons of phaeodarian Radiolaria mainly acquired by sediment traps. In addition for the sake of comparison, fresh plankton tow specimens were also observed as well as fossil phaeodarians from sediments. The presence of a variety of microstructures is apparent depending on taxa as well as different parts of the skeletons. However, fundamentally porous micro-structures and basic tubular ultra-structures appear to be common in most of the taxa examined. Progressive dissolution of their skeletons can be deciphered when live specimens from a plankton tow and partially dissolved sediment trap samples are compared. Comparative observations on ashed and non-ashed specimens did not show evidence of the presence of organic matter within the phaeodarian skeletal structure.