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.
