THE LAGENID BENTHIC FORAMINIFERAL GENUS WIGNALLYIA ALY AND ITS MEMBERS IN THE TETHYS

Abstract

Three species of the Eocene Lagenid benthic foraminiferal genus Wignallyia Aly are known from the Northern and Southern Tethys. The genus Wignallyia is characterized by its elongate test, involute earlier chambers and covered by beaded tubercles, and followed by uniserial globular chambers with longitudinal costae covered the surface, ended by a terminal circular aperture with thickened lip on a short neck. These species are: Wignallyia hewaidyi, W. infracompressa and W. behmi. The first two species are common in many sites in Egypt (Beni Suef area in Nile Valley, Fayoum area, southeast Cairo), and also are recorded in Poland and Hungary. The third one W. behmi is recorded in Italy, France, Swiss, Austria, Italy, Poland, Hungary and Slovenia (Northern Tethys), as well as in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, UAE (Southern Tethys). The taxonomic consideration, stratigraphic implication of the erected taxa, and paleogeographic distribution of the identified species on both sides of the Tethys are also presented and discussed.