Revision of the foraminiferal genus Globoreticulina Rahaghi, 1978, and of its associated fauna of larger foraminifera from the late Middle Eocene of Iran

Overview & Synopsis

The definition of the type species of the genus Globoreticulina Rahaghi, 1978, G. iranica Rahaghi, 1978, is emended and its age discussed in relation to those of 17 associated taxa of larger foraminifera, all from restricted shallow environments. These taxa represent porcelaneous groups of spiroline habit including Rhabdorites malatyaensis, archaiasines (Archaias operculiniformis and A. diyarbakirensis), agglutinated conicals (Coskinolina and Dictyoconus) and some rotaliids (Medocia and others). These taxa were revised where necessary and their biostratigraphic ranges discussed. In addition to the establishment of a new subfamily of the Alveolinidae, the Malatyninae, the following new Linnaean names are introduced in order to conform with the revisions: Austrotrillina eocaenica n. sp., Neotaberina neaniconica n. gen. n. sp., Neorhipidionina spiralis n. gen. n. sp., Penarchaias n. gen. and Rotaliconus persicus n. gen. n. sp. The species Praerhapydionina huberi Henson is transferred to the genus Haymanella Sirel and the genus Praearchaias Sirel is suppressed. The age of the type level of Globoreticulina iranica is interpreted to be SBZ 18 (Late Bartonian) according to the available local data but the possibility that its stratigraphic position is actually level SBZ 17 or SBZ 16 can not be excluded with certainty.