“ Larger ” Benthic Foraminifera Of The Cenomanian. A Review Of The Identity And The Stratigraphic And Palaeogeographic Distribution Of Non-Fusiform Planispiral (Or Near-Planispiral) Forms
Author
SIMMONS, MICHAEL
Author
BIDGOOD, MICHAEL
text
Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae
2023
2023-08-02
19
2
39
169
http://dx.doi.org/10.35463/j.apr.2023.02.06
journal article
10.35463/j.apr.2023.02.06
1842-371x
Planinummoloculina gnosi
Piuz & Vicendo, 2020
Reference Illustration & Description
Piuz & Vicedo (2020)
, fig. 3(A-U), p. 11-13.
P. gnosi
is characterised by planispiral (occasionally slightly oscillating) coiling throughout, rather than having a distinctly milioline nepionic stage cf.
Pseudonummoloculina? heimi
and
P. aurigerica
. Apertural notches/crenulations similar to those seen in
P. aurigerica
are visible from the 5
th
whorl onwards.
Piuz & Vicedo (2020)
describe an adult test of 10-11 whorls with 3-4 chambers per whorl, but do not illustrate an equatorial view of their specimens. The test of
P. gnosi
is also reported as being larger (up to
3mm
diameter) than both
P. aurigerica
and
P? heimi
. Axial/subaxial views show that
P. gnosi
has an axial profile broader to those of
P? heimi
and
P? regularis
, or tending towards that of
P. aurigerica
but does not appear to be biconcave (cf.
P? heimi
) or have a depressed umbilicus (cf.
P. aurigerica
). See the Species Key Chart (Appendix) for diagnostic and other characteristics.
Fig. 47
Cenomanian paleogeographic distribution of
Pseudonummoloculina? regularis
.
Fig. 48
Representative illustrations of
Pseudonummoloculina
?
cf.
irregularis
: a Subequatorial section,
Chiocchini et al. (2012
, pl. 1, fig. 3, Italy);
b
Subaxial section,
Chiocchini et al. (2012
, pl. 120,fig. 2, Italy);
c
Subequatorial section,
Chiocchini et al. (2012
, pl. 120, fig. 4, Italy);
d
Pseudonummoloculina
sp.
sensu Solak et al. (2020, fig. 14V, Turkey).
Fig. 49
Cenomanian paleogeographic distribution of
Pseudonummoloculina
?
cf. irregularis
Fig. 50
Representative illustrations of
Planinummoloculina gnosi
:
a
Axial section,
Piuz and Vicedo (2020
, fig. 3N, Oman);
b
Tangential section,
Piuz and Vicedo (2020
, fig. 3R, Oman).
Stratigraphic Distribution
Close to middle/late Cenomanian boundary.
So far only confidently described from the Cenomanian (unit B of the Natih Formation) of the
Oman
Mountains. Regarded as middle Cenomanian by
Piuz & Vicedo (2020)
, this unit most likely contains the middle/late Cenomanian boundary (
Bromhead et al., 2022
).
Piuz & Vicedo (2020)
regard specimens identified as
Nummoloculina regularis
by Afghah et al. (2014) from the Sarvak Formation of the Iranian Zagros as possibly attributable to this species. This occurrence, if valid, might be middle Cenomanian in age but requires a complete re-evaluation of the associated microfauna (
Schlagintweit & Simmons, 2022
). Dr Felix Schlagintweit (pers.comm., 2023) believes he has specimens of this species from the Sarvak Formation.
Cenomanian Paleogeographic Distribution
Arabian Plate.
So far described only from the Cenomanian of the
Oman
Mountains and the Iranian Zagros (
Piuz & Vicedo, 2020
and Dr Felix Schlagintweit
pers. comm
., 2023).