We present a detailed taxonomic assessment of Late Cretaceous (Turonian–Santonian) agglutinated and calcareous benthic, and planktonic foraminifera from IODP Site U1512 in the Great Australian Bight, also known as the “Australo-Antarctic Gulf” (AAG). This study expands upon the dataset of Wolfgring et al. (2021, 2023) with 25 additional samples and a systematic revision of key taxa. Agglutinated foraminifera (Kalamopsis grzybowskii, Haplophragmoides) dominate the assemblages, reflecting the persistent low-carbonate setting. Dysoxic conditions in the semi-restricted AAG were influenced by high terrestrial input from the Ceduna River system. The marginal marine seaway documents limited oceanic exchange. Calcareous benthic (e.g., Notoplanulina, Gyroidinoides) and planktonic foraminifera (e.g., Whiteinella baltica) occur only sporadically, marking short-lived phases of improved marine connectivity, possibly tied to tectonic subsidence and eustatic highs during the Turonian–Coniacian. The Coniacian–Santonian strata record an increase in calcareous taxa and the appearance of Uvigerinammina jankoi, together with the consistent presence of Bulbobaculites problematicus, offering a link to the Tethyan agglutinated foraminiferal biozonation of Geroch and Nowak (1984). By integrating new taxonomic data with existing geochemical and biostratigraphic records, this work refines paleoenvironmental reconstructions of the AAG, highlighting the interplay of tectonics, freshwater runoff, and ocean circulation patterns during the stages of the opening of the AAG and the breakup of eastern Gondwana.
This study investigates larger hyaline foraminifera from the Tondok section in the Sabzevar region, Central Iran, providing new insights into the biostratigraphy and paleobiogeography of the early Lutetian. Species such as Assilina pomeroli Schaub, Assilina placentula (Deshayes), and Nummulites obesus d’Archiac and Haime show extended distribution ranges into younger strata in the central Neo-Tethys, revising traditional models. Notably, the easternmost records of Assilina russeiesensis Boukhary and Abd El Naby and Nummulites kapellosi Schaub are reported for the first time in the lower Lutetian, indicating a significant shift in their distribution ranges. The findings highlight complex eastward dispersal patterns across the Tethys, refining our understanding of marine ecosystem evolution during the Eocene.
The lowermost part of the Molare Formation in the Val Lemme area, northwestern Italy, records the early stages of the Oligocene marine transgression within the Tertiary Piedmont Basin (TPB). The studied successions, Lemme and Sottovalle, are composed mainly of coarse siliciclastic lithologies and contain levels rich in Larger Benthic Foraminifera (LBF). Taxonomic analysis indicates that the assemblages are completely dominated by Nummulites fichteli Michelotti 1841 and Nummulites vascus Joly and Leymerie 1848, whereas Nummulites kecskemetii Less 1991 and Operculina complanata (Defrance in Blainville 1822) occur only sporadically. A biometric study was carried out on 101 megalospheric A-forms. Our results show that N. fichteli forms a relatively coherent biometric group, with broad overlap between the Lemme and Sottovalle samples, whereas N. vascus displays a more dispersed biometric distribution and appears to be separated in the two sections. These differences are interpreted as reflecting local population structure, sample-to-sample variability and possible hydrodynamic or facies-related effects, rather than taxonomic separation. Comparison with published biometric datasets places the studied N. fichteli populations within the middle to upper Rupelian, corresponding to SBZ21–22A, clearly separated from the Chattian Nummulites bormidiensis Tellini 1888 of SBZ22B. Although N. kecskemetii (SBZ22B–23) rarely appears in the Sottovalle section only, this occurrence is interpreted as a subordinate element that does substantially not modify the biostratigraphic interpretation. The studied assemblages therefore support attribution of the analyzed interval of the Molare Formation to the upper part of the fichteli-vascus biozone, i.e., SBZ22A and document the development of shallow-marine, LBF rich environments, during the middle Rupelian transgressive phase of the TPB. This study aims to be a contribution to a comprehensive understanding of the initial colonization strategies along a transgressive sequence from riverine - deltaic settings to a fully marine system. Among the early colonizers, LBF appear predominant, their arrival and initial diversity indicate competition for the newly available niches, in a highly stressed condition, and therefore more data are available to fully comprehend how such protists cope and adapt their life strategies in complex ecological settings.
The micropaleontological collection housed at the Museum of Paleontology and Stratigraphy, Babes-Bolyai University (MPS-BBU) dates back to the late 19th century and holds significant historical, educational, and scientific value. A recent reorganization of legacy faculty cabinets uncovered microcells and glass vials with microfossils. These specimens, representing foraminifera, microgastropoda, and ostracoda originate from various localities across the Transylvanian Basin and span a broad stratigraphic interval from Paleogene to Quaternary. They represent several holotypes of various taxa, including four foraminiferal (Quinqueloculina quadrangula Nemes 1888b; Triloculina retortioris Nemes 1888b; Triloculina kochi Nemes 1888b, and Bulimina truncana Gümbel var. denticulata Protescu 1932), two microgastropoda (Gyraulus dacicus Maxim et al., 1972 and Vertigo napocensis Maxim et al. 1972), and two ostracod (Cythere reticulata Héjjas 1892, and Cytheridea dacica Héjjas 1894c) species. Their rediscovery underscores the importance of meticulous curation, thorough documentation, and improved accessibility of micropaleontological collections for ongoing research.
The new benthic foraminifera Neaguina gen. nov. is described with the type-species being Cuneolina laurentii Sartoni and Crescenti from the Lower Cretaceous of Italy. Other species that are here transferred to Neaguina are Cuneolina hensoni Dalbiez (Lower Cretaceous of France) and Cuneolina sliteri Arnaud-Vanneau and Premoli-Silva (Lower Cretaceous of the NW Pacific). The diagnostic difference from allied taxa is related to its wall-structure; agglutinated homogeneous in Cuneolina d’Orbigny, Vercorsella Arnaud-Vanneau, or Scythiolina Neagu versus agglutinated canaliculate in Neaguina gen. nov. While Cuneolina and related genera are included in the order Loftusiida Kaminski, Neaguina is assigned to the order Textulariida Delage and Hérouard. The Lower Cretaceous Kaminskia Neagu with a canaliculate wall exhibits identical test morphology (biserially compressed) but with undivided chambers whereas in Neaguina the chambers are subdivided by radial partitions (beams) forming alcoves and sometimes additional horizontal partitions (rafters). Based on this fundamental feature, the family Kaminskiidae Neagu is here further subdivided into two subfamilies: the Kaminskiinae Neagu (without internal partitions) and the Neaguininae subfam. nov. (with internal partitions). Besides the Lower Cretaceous representatives [Neaguina laurentii (Sartoni and Crescenti) comb. nov., N. hensoni (Dalbiez) comb. nov., N. sliteri (Arnaud-Vanneau and Premoli Silva) comb. nov.], various taxonomically so far untreated morphotypes of Neaguina are reported from Cenomanian strata of Iran, Oman and Morocco, with further possible occurrences in the Campanian of Croatia and the Maastrichtian of Iran.
The Eocene Rashrashiyah Formation of northwestern Saudi Arabia consists predominantly of alternating marls and limestones deposited in an outer-shelf to upper-bathyal setting along the southern margin of the Tethys. The foraminiferal assemblage is diverse and includes planktonic, agglutinated benthic, and calcareous benthic components with generally good preservation. In this study, calcareous benthic foraminifera belonging to the suborders Miliolina and Lagenina are systematically documented from three measured sections (Outcrops A, B, and C). A total of 29 genera and 89 species are identified from 353 samples, including 3 genera of Miliolida and 26 genera of Lagenida, many of which are recorded for the first time from the Eocene of Saudi Arabia. The studied interval is assigned to planktonic foraminiferal Zones E13-E14 (Bartonian-Priabonian), providing a basis for regional correlation within the Arabian Plate. This contribution represents the first part of a comprehensive study of calcareous benthic foraminifera from the Rashrashiyah Formation, complementing previously published agglutinated assemblages and contributing to a more integrated taxonomic and paleoecological understanding of the succession.
The pioneering study by Serpagli (1967), based on the two distinct Rifugio Nordio and Monte Zermula sections exposed in the western Carnic Alps, Italy, laid the foundation for subsequent research on the Ordovician conodont faunas of central-southern Europe. A rich and diverse assemblage was reported, still using the morphospecies concept, and numerous new taxa were described and illustrated exclusively through line drawings. The recent rediscovery of the original conodont residues in the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE) paleontological collections enabled the description of additional conodont elements, a reassessment of broader taxonomic issues, and the first photographic documentation of the collection. The assemblage, composed of approximately 2000 elements, documents the Amorphognathus ordovicicus Biozone by the recovery of 17 species belonging to 15 genera. Since this likely represents a fauna complementary to that already defined by Serpagli (1967), any consideration of abundance is probably of limited value, and any additional taxonomic detail becomes correspondingly more significant. The rediscovered fauna confirms the dominance of Hamarodus brevirameus, Scabbardella altipes, and Amorphognathus spp., accompanied by less common taxa such as Dapsilodus mutatus, Eocarniodus gracilis, and Plectodina alpina. The new species Icriodella serpaglii is introduced. This assemblage, consistent with the Hamarodus brevirameus-Dapsilodus mutatus-Scabbardella altipes Biofacies, closely resembles coeval faunas documented elsewhere in the Carnic Alps and further confirms the distinctive exceptional nature of this geographic sector within the northern Gondwana margin.
A rich and diverse assemblage of large benthic foraminifera from the Eocene carbonates in the south Sabzevar region (Cheshmeh Hadi section) of central Iran suggests an age range from early Lutetian to early Bartonian. The assemblage includes six species of nummulitids: Assilina placentula (Deshayes) ex. interc. A. cuvillieri Schaub, A. aff. laxispira, Nummulites preadiscorbinus Schaub, N. obesus d'Archiac and Haime, N. deshayesi D'Archiac and Haime and N. perforatus De Montfort, along with Alveolina ozcani Hadi and Consorti andA. kieli Sirel and Acar. Detailed analysis identifies these taxa as indicative of shallow benthic zones (SBZs) 12 to 17, spanning from the early Lutetian to the early Bartonian. The age model is based on both SBZ and calcareous nannofossil (CN) biostratigraphy, with the latter corresponding to the NP15 biozone and possibly the lower part of the NP16 biozone, as recorded in the central portion of the studied section. This combined approach enhances the robustness of the age model, providing a consistent framework for the correlation of SBZ and CN biozones.
This study presents a taxonomic revision of the Alveolina elliptica group based on well-preserved specimens from the Sabzevar region of Central Iran. Detailed morphological and biometric analyses were conducted on key species, including A. kieli, A. stercusmuris, A. elliptica, andA. nuttalli. Our results document a wider morphological variability within A. stercusmuris than previously recognized and demonstrate that this species can be reliably distinguished from A. nuttalli by the absence of basal layer thickening in the equatorial plane, a diagnostic feature that is consistently developed inA. nuttalli. Ontogenetic variation observed inA. elliptica further indicates that several morphologies previously interpreted as taxonomically distinct instead reflect different growth stages. Based on a hierarchical evaluation of qualitative and semi-quantitative criteria, in which flosculinization represents the primary diagnostic character, followed by test shape and size, as well as coiling pattern and whorl development through ontogeny, this study confirms the taxonomic coherence of the Alveolina elliptica group and refines the diagnostic criteria used to distinguish its constituent species.
Anomalinoides dividens & Lstrok;uczkowska 1967 is known as an index species for the stratigraphy of the Middle Miocene in the Paratethys. Its abundance clearly marks the regional Badenian/Sarmatian (mid Serravallian) stratigraphic boundary. A review of the literature suggests that similar morphologies have been described under different species names; therefore, the use of the senior synonym Anomalinoides globulosus (Chapman and Parr 1937) is recommended. This review demonstrates that the species is not endemic to the Paratethys, to which it probably migrated from the Indo-Pacific region during the mid Serravallian.
This study investigates the benthic foraminiferal assemblages recovered from core-top (0-1cm) samples collected along two transects and 11 stations (111 to 3405 m water depth) with the aid of a Barnett multi-tube corer (MUC) offshore Cape Blanc, NW Africa in November, 2015. Our results show that foraminiferal species distribution varies systematically with depth: outer shelf areas are dominated by Cassidulina laevigata and Bolivina spp., while deeper regions host taxa like Abditodentrix pseudothalmanni, Alabaminella weddellensis, and Epistominella exigua, reflecting difference in oxygenation and most importantly the availability of phytodetrital material. Diversity increases with depth, peaking in abyssal zones, while specimen abundance drops significantly. Hyaline wall-type specimens dominate across all samples, though agglutinated and porcelaneous types increase at greater depths. Statistical methods revealed five distinct assemblage clusters, each linked to specific depth zones and dominant species. PCA highlighted clear ecological gradients and species correlations. Assemblages correlate with bottom and pore-water oxygen levels. Suboxic indicator species dominate in most zones and show strong correlation with increasing depth and oxygen concentration. The Bolivina-Cassidulina and Bulimina aculeata assemblages exhibit marked geomorphological and oceanographic distinctions. Oxygen indices (BFOI and EBFOI) were tested but found less predictive than relative abundance of suboxic indicator species, affirming the reliability of benthic foraminiferal distribution as a proxy for dissolved oxygen in complex marine environments.
The Line Islands archipelago is the last major group of islands in the Central Tropical Pacific Ocean before a stretch of more than 5000 km of open ocean west of the Americas known as the Eastern Pacific Barrier. These islands may therefore provide a key stepping stone for dispersal of shallow water marine organisms. Despite their recognized ecological importance and high biodiversity, the foraminiferal fauna in these remote islands has remained largely undocumented. This work addresses that gap by presenting the first species-level, fully illustrated inventory of shallow-water benthic foraminifera from diverse habitats (reef, lagoon, and nearshore beach environments) across six of the northern Line Islands: Kingman, Jarvis, Palmyra, Tabuaeran (Fanning), Kiritimati (Christmas), and Teraina (Washington). The benthic foraminiferal species assemblages of these islands were analyzed, and placed in context of reefal habitats and different levels of anthropogenic environmental impacts across the studied islands. A total of 69 sediment samples were obtained from a variety of settings including shallow nearshore sands, lagoonal patch reefs, shallow fore-reefs, and deeper fore-reefs (up to 40 m depth). Over 25,500 individual foraminifera were picked and identified to species level whenever possible, resulting in a faunal inventory comprising 134 species from 65 genera. Quantitative analyses included species richness counts, Fisher ? and Shannon diversity indices, and community structure assessments using rarefaction, ternary diagrams, nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NDMS), and the FORAM Index (FI) to gauge reef health. Analyses reveal that hyaline-perforate foraminifera dominate the assemblages, followed by porcelaneous forms and agglutinated taxa. Larger symbiont-bearing foraminifera, though representing only 6.7% of the species, accounted for over 57% of the total individuals. Foraminiferal assemblages varied among islands and habitats: Nearshore beach sands showed high proportions of porcelaneous taxa, whereas lagoonal patch reefs were consistently dominated by hyaline-perforate species with minimal agglutinated forms. Shallow fore-reefs displayed the greatest variability in taxonomic composition, while deep fore-reefs showed a narrower range of variation and a slightly higher proportion of agglutinated species. Statistical analysis indicated that species richness and diversity were lowest at shallow nearshore beach sites, increased in fore-reef environments, and peaked at deeper fore-reef sites. NMDS further revealed that shallow fore-reef habitats are more heterogeneous in faunal composition compared to more uniform deep fore-reef and lagoonal environments. A marked difference was observed between inhabited (Kiritimati, Tabuaeran, Teraina) and uninhabited islands (Kingman, Jarvis, Palmyra). Inhabited islands exhibited significantly higher percentages of opportunistic foraminifera, which may be linked to anthropogenic impacts. The FORAM Index values across sites (calculated from both live and dead foraminifera) generally exceeded the critical threshold (FI > 4), suggesting that the water quality is sufficient to support calcifying symbiosis and active carbonate production. This reinforces the role of foraminifera not only as bioindicators but also as key contributors to reef sediment formation. The research provides crucial baseline data for modern Indo-Pacific foraminiferal communities and demonstrates how assemblage structure varies across environmental gradients and human impacts. The relatively low diversity of larger symbiont-bearing species compared to the highly diverse Coral Triangle underscores the steep longitudinal biodiversity gradient in the tropical Pacific. Despite the lower species numbers, the overwhelming abundance of LBF in most habitats indicates their pivotal role in reef carbonate production and structural maintenance. Moreover, the study shows that the Northern Line Islands act less as a stepping stone and more as a last "jumping off point" for dispersal of tropical taxa across the Pacific, positioned at the edge of the Eastern Pacific Barrier (EPB). Indeed, very few species have successfully dispersed even this far east, and even fewer cross the EPB. Overall, the manuscript advances our understanding of foraminiferal biogeography, providing insights into how environmental factors (such as habitat type, depth, and human disturbance) shape community structure. These findings have broader implications for interpreting the fossil record and for reef conservation strategies, particularly in a rapidly changing ocean where anthropogenic impacts are increasingly significant.
The collection of Middle and Late Silurian (Wenlock-P & rcaron;& iacute;dol & iacute;) to Early Devonian (Lochkovian) foraminiferal type specimens of Dr. H. A. Ireland from the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA is examined. Ireland's syntypes are from the Arbuckle Mountains area of south-central Oklahoma. Lectotypes are selected for twenty of Ireland's species and two of his subspecies. The type specimens are re-illustrated, redescribed, and classified according to modern agglutinated foraminiferal systematics. The generic affiliations of nine species and two subspecies are revised or reevaluated, including species previously assigned to the genera Webbinella, Psammosphaera, Bathysiphon, Ammodiscus, Lituotuba, Glomospirella, Glomospira, and Psammonyx. The genera Ceratammina and Bifurcammina are redescribed.
The subject of this study are deep water agglutinated assemblages with an increased abundance of Spiroplectammina spectabilis (Grzybowski) and their biostratigraphic utility. Qualitative and quantitative observations of foraminiferal assemblages indicate that, in the Outer Carpathians, Spiroplectammina spectabilis acme assemblages occur within a consistent Middle Eocene interval (the Reticulophragmium amplectens and "Ammodiscus" latus zones) and may be applied as a biostratigraphic tool. In general, the proportion of Spiroplectammina spectabilis varies from 8% to 22%, with maximum values reaching 42%. The Spiroplectammina spectabilis acme has been recognized along the southeastern margin of the Outer Carpathians, within deposits of the Silesian, Skole (Skyba), Subsilesian, Dukla, Boryslav-Pokuttya, and Tarc & abreve;u nappes, which represent sediments of the marginal part of the Tethys, known as the Silesian-Moldavidic Basin. It occurs mainly in thin-bedded turbidites dominated by gray and green mudstones, deposited in bathyal environments with a continuous supply of organic matter. Beyond the Carpathians, the Eocene Spiroplectammina spectabilis acme is also known from the deep Labrador Sea and from the Contessa Highway section in Italy.
A new living multi-chambered textulariid benthic foraminifer belonging to genus Portatrochammina is here described from the Jaitapur Creek, Ratnagiri District, Maharashtra, India (Arabian Sea). The new species Portatrochammina bharatensis n. sp. is characterized by a low trochospiral, chamber arrangement, moderate size test (0.3-0.5 mm diameter), with 5-5.5 subglobular gradually enlarging chambers in the final whorl, and interiomarginal arched aperture with umbilical flap partially covering axial depression. Molecular phylogenetic analysis, using partial small sub-unit rRNA (SSU rDNA) gene sequences shows the placement of this new species amongst other textulariids, and branches in a clade with P. pacifica and P. antarctica. Elemental characterization (SEM-EDS) of the agglutinated test wall reveals a preference for quartz mineral grains (SiO2) to construct its test. The species commonly occurs in marginal marine sediments along the west coast of India.
The Eocene represents one of the most critical intervals in Earth's history marked by the transition from a greenhouse to an icehouse climate and by profound restructuring of marine and terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we investigate the paleobiogeography and biodiversity of small benthic foraminifera across the vast epicontinental seas of the Peri-Tethys and Western Siberia. Drawing upon a comprehensive dataset of 392 species compiled from both historical and modern micropaleontological records, we integrate fossil occurrences with paleogeographic reconstructions, paleoclimate simulations, and species distribution modelling (SDM) using Maxent technology. Sea surface temperature, paleobathymetry, and pseudocurrents were used as environmental predictors to generate species richness maps and to reconstruct the distribution of key taxonomic groups, including agglutinated, porcelaneous, perforate hyaline, non-endemic, and relict taxa. Biogeographic similarity was further evaluated using Local Contribution to Beta Diversity (LCBD) metrics, Jaccard similarity indices, and hierarchical clustering. Our results reveal marked spatial and temporal heterogeneity in foraminiferal assemblages, reflecting the dynamic interplay between climate change, progressive basin restriction, and faunal exchange with the Tethys and Arctic.
The Tuzla Peninsula is the most important outcrop area of the Devonian units in & Idot;stanbul, NW T & uuml;rkiye. The diverse conodont and silicified ostracod fauna come from the section MT, located in the southwestern end of the Tuzla Peninsula. Microfaunal studies (conodonts and ostracoda) indicate that the marine Devonian from this section is Givetian in age. It includes the uppermost Tuzla and lower Y & ouml;r & uuml;kali members of the Denizli K & ouml;y & uuml; Formation. The hermanni Zone and disparilis Zone of the late Givetian established on conodonts are recognized at the MT section. Eighteen ostracode species belonging to 17 genera, included in two orders (Palaeocopida and Podocopida) and 12 conodont species are reported from the MT section. The ostracod fauna represents 'mixed fauna' composed of thick-shelled taxa that are common in the Eifelian Mega-Assemblage and others spinose and thin-shelled spinose taxa that are common in a Thuringian Mega-Assemblage. The Givetian ostracod records from the & Idot;stanbul Zone correlate with the southern Laurussia and northern Gondwana Devonian ostracod assemblages.
The Middle-Upper Eocene Rashrashiyah Formation of the Sirhan-Turayf Basin, northwestern Saudi Arabia, yields a diverse assemblage of deep-marine agglutinated benthic foraminifera representing the first well-documented assemblage from the Arabian Plate. Twenty-three species assigned to ten genera were identified from an similar to 11 m interval and correlated with planktonic foraminiferal Zone E14 (Priabonian). The fauna is dominated by Haplophragmoides, Spiroplectammina, Plectina, Pavonitina, Karreriella, and Flabellogaudryina, with Pavonitina styriaca, Pavopsammia flabellum, Plectina spp., Karreriella arenasensis, and Clavulinoides alpina reported for the first time from Saudi Arabia. Morphogroup and diversity trends reveal an upward transition within the upper Slope Marl Assemblage (SMA). The lower part of the studied succession corresponds to the lower subdivision of the upper SMA and is characterized by oxygen-stressed assemblages dominated by Haplophragmoides with Psammosphaera and Saccammina, whereas the upper part of the succession represents the upper subdivision of the upper SMA and is marked by communities dominated by Karreriella, Plectina, and pavonitinids (Pavonitina, Pavopsammia) associated with the Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ). The assemblage shows strong paleoecological and taxonomic affinity with OMZ-related Priabonian slope faunas from Hungary, Italy, and southern Bulgaria. These findings significantly extend the known southern Tethyan distribution of several agglutinated taxa and establish the Sirhan-Turayf Basin as a key reference locality for reconstructing Late Eocene benthic foraminiferal paleoecology and upper-slope environmental conditions along the southern margin of the Tethys.
The larger benthic foraminifera genus Orbitolinopsis Silvestri exhibits a discontinuous stratigraphic record (Late Berriasian-middle Cenomanian, Coniacian-early Santonian, ?late Maastrichtian). Orbitolinopsis senonicus is a species that marks the reappearance of the genus several million years after the Cenomanian-Turonian faunal turnover which eliminated all k-strategist larger benthic foraminifera. The type-material of this poorly-known species, stored at the Basel Natural History Museum, was restudied. The existence of a pseudo-keriothecal wall structure, as indicated in the original description, and that would exclude attribution to Orbitolinopsis, could not be confirmed. The internal test structure clearly shows the septal infoldings ("cupules") typical for the genus and well-known from Early Cretaceous representatives. Therefore O. senonicus is confirmed as a remarkable Late Cretaceous representative of Orbitolinopsis and adds to our understanding of faunal recovery in the period after the end-Cenomanian extinction event. The critical literature review for the synonymy list concludes in the description of a new species, Orbitolinopsis bilottei sp. nov from the Campanian of SW France, being more complex than O. senonicus.
In this global review we recognise, describe and figure 205 morphospecies of living elphidiids (Cribroelphidiidae, Elphidiellidae, Elphidiidae, Haynesinidae) from around the world and summarise their biogeography. Fifty-eight phylospecies (S1-58) are recognised by DNA sequencing grouping in eight clades and almost all are shown to be morphologically distinguishable. A further 148 morphospecies, that have not yet been sequenced, have sufficiently distinct morphology to be recognised and we hypothesise there could be at least another 100 rather cryptic and less common species that we have not been able to distinguish confidently to include in this review. We recognise the following families and genera: Family Cribroelphidiidae (clade F), containing the genera Cribroelphidium and Protelphidium; Family Elphidiellidae containing the genera Cryptoelphidiella (clades D and E), Elphidiella (clade B), Emayerella (replacement name for Mayerella junior homonym), and Rectoelphidiella; Family Elphidiidae s.l. (clades A, B, H and I), containing the genera Australononion (n. gen.) (clade I), Elphidium (clades A and H), Epistomaroides, Hispidoelphidium (n. gen.), Millettoelphidium (n. gen.) (clade H), Stomoloculina, and Toddinella (clade B); Family Haynesinidae (clade C), containing genera Aubignyna and Haynesina; Family Notorotaliidae, which molecular analyses confirm branches among these "elphidiids" has been reviewed previously and contains genera Buccella, Cristatavultus, Notorotalia, Parrellina and Porosorotalia. The families Elphidiidae and Elphidiellidae are based on morphological characters, as molecular analysis shows them to be polyphyletic but for the moment a clear morphological distinction is not possible for the obtained molecular clades. Seven molecular species and 34 morphospecies are described and named as new: Cribroelphidium calvomarcileseae, C. inflatogunteri, C. knudsenae (S3), C. revetsi (S41), Cryptoelphidiella daisyana, C. schweizerae, Elphidium altenbachi (S49), E. apthorpae, E. canni, E. davidhaigi, E. fajemilai, E. feylinghansseni, E. gischleri, E. goldsteinae, E. hanseni, E. hollisi, "E." hulmei (S39, S57), E. kawagatai (S33), E. korsuni, E. larsi, E. lobulatum, E. lunatum, E. mouangaae, E. pereirai, E. pilleti (S18), E. poagi, E. sabaaae, E. scottorum, E. thisseni, E. yankoae, Epistomaroides fordererae, Haynesina lecozei, Millettoelphidium culveri (S51), M. yassinii, Protelphidium hottingeri, Toddinella akandaensis, T. crundwelli, T. darlingae, T. grenfelli, T. lutzei, and T. spezzaferriae. Two genotypes of "Elphidium" hulmei are genetically distinct but morphologically cryptic and unable to be separated using morphology. A further 16 unnamed morphospecies are described but not formally named because of insufficient material to do so. A neotype is proposed for Epistomaroides punctulatus (d'Orbigny) and a lectotype for Elphidium owenianum (d'Orbigny). Elphidiids live in mostly shallow seas (hyposaline to hypersaline) and occur throughout the world except for around the coast of the bulk of Antarctica. No species is cosmopolitan but a few (e.g., Australononion simplex, Cribroelphidium clavatum, C. decipiens, C. gunteri, C. knudsenae, C. lidoense, Elphidium advena, E. alvarezianum, E. articulatum, E. fax, "E." formosum, E. gerthi, E. hanseni, E. jenseni, E. longipontis, Haynesina germanica, Hispidoelphidium hispidulum, Preotelphidium schmitti and Toddinella incerta) are widespread in two or more ocean regions, whereas the majority are endemic to smaller areas. Twenty biogeographic "provinces" are recognised by cluster analysis of presence/absence records with the highest diversities in the northwest Pacific and tropical East Indies-North Australia provinces with 74 and 49 species each. At the highest level of clustering their world biogeography can be divided into three large regions-Arctic and Atlantic; Indian and Pacific; and Southern Ocean. Levels of endemism in our "provinces" range between 0 (five provinces) and 33% (Southern Ocean). This review identifies at least 33 non-indigenous species (2 genotypes, 31 morphospecies) presumably introduced by accidental anthropogenic transfer in the last several centuries, probably in ship's ballast, across large oceanic barriers to establish disjunct distribution patterns.
