PALEONTOLOGY, STRATIGRAPHY AND PALEOGEOGRAPHY OF THE TETHYAN MAASTRICHTIAN-NEOGENE ROTALIID BENTHIC FORAMINIFERAL MEMBERS OF THE GENUS PARAROTALIA

Abstract

The modern taxonomical consideration is used for most diagnostic sixteen Maastrichtian-Neogene Rotaliid benthic foraminiferal species of the genus Pararotalia Le Calvez which has wide geographic distribution in many Tethyan sites: USA, Northern Tethys (England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Romania) and Southern Tethys (Libya, Egypt, Tanzania, UAE, Pakistan, India). The Maastrichtian-Paleocene species is P. tuberculifera (Reuss). The Paleocene species is P. macneili Loeblich and Tappan. The Paleocene-Eocene species is P. ishamae Loeblich and Tappan. The Eocene species are: P. audouini (d’Orbigny), P. clavezae Loeblich & Tappan, P. inermis (Terquem), P. khirthari Haque, and P. pakistanica Anan. The Eocene-Oligocene species is P. spinigera (Le Calcez). The Oligocene species are: P. byramensis (Cushman), P. curryi Loeblich & Tappan, P. parva (Cushman) and P. subinermis Bhatia. The Neogene species are: Pararotalia aculeata (d’Orbigny), P. armata (d’Orbigny) and P. loeblichi Anan. One species is believed to be new: Pararotalia loeblichi Anan, n. sp. Eight species of them were recorded from USA (about 50%), 6 from Romania (about 37.5%), 5 from each of France, Egypt, UAE and Pakistan (about 31.5%), 3 from Poland (about 19%), 2 from Belgium, Italy and Slovenia (about 12.5%), 1 species from each of England, Libya and India (about 6%). The petaloid test and keeled peripheral margin are mostly represented warm water environment.