NEW RECORDS OF CAUDRIELLA HAMAN AND HUDDLESTON FROM THE MIDDLE AND LATE EOCENE OF NEO-TETHYS: TAXONOMIC AND PALAEOBIOGEOGRAPHIC IMPLICATIONS

The middle to upper Eocene mixed carbonate-clastic and northwest Turkey yielded unique assemblages of larger benthic foraminifera, some displaying a typical orbitoidiform test, not comparable to any known taxa in the Palaeogene of the Neo-Tethys. These specimens with a flat, discoidal test, occasionally with an indistinct central depression, possess a central layer of equatorial chambers/chamberlets displaying a cyclical (orbitoidal) growth pattern and thick lateral layers with numerous chamberlets. The megalospheric embryonic apparatus possesses three small chambers (a triconch, the chambers of which are separated by notably thin walls), followed by a large auxiliary chamberlet. These specimens closely correspond to the genus Caudriella Haman and Huddleston and its viously been reported with confidence from the Caribbean region, notably the type locality within the middle Eocene Punta driella at its type locality also possesses a trilocular embryonic apparatus, which was incorrectly interpreted as arranged in a rectilinear or slightly curved row. The diagnosis of Caudriella is emended and considering the similarities in their equatorial sections with closely associated Linderina Schlumberger, a comparison of their embryonic-nepionic stages is given from the same deposits in NW Turkey and with those and Kutch (India). A new record of primitive Caudriella is presented from Jamaica. The palaeobiogeographic distribution of Caudriella is reconsidered, being recorded from both the American/Caribbean and the Western Neo-Tethys bioprovinces. Limited data suggest eastward directed dispersal of the genus, even though this would be counter to most of the prevailing surface currents during the Eocene.

Automated summary

This article introduces a unique combination of carbonate-clastic and larger benthic foraminifera in the middle to upper Eocene of northwest Turkey, and describes a newly discovered genus of larger benthic foraminifera, Caudriella. The study reveals the distribution of Caudriella in both the Caribbean and Western Neo-Tethys regions. Comparative analysis of the embryonic-nepionic stages of Caudriella and the emendation of its diagnosis are also conducted.