Textulariida

Abstract: A reclassification of the agglutinated foraminifera (subclass Textulariia) is presented, consisting of four orders, 17 suborders, 27 superfamilies, 107 families, 125 subfamilies, and containing a total of 747 valid genera. One order (the Loftusiida Kaminski & Mikhalevich), five suborders (the Verneuilinina Mikhalevich & Kaminski, Nezzazatina, Loftusiina Kaminski & Mikhalevich, Biokovinina, and Orbitolinina), two families (the Syrianidae and the Debarinidae) and five subfamilies (the Polychasmininae, Praesphaerammininae Kaminski & Mikhalevich, Flatschkofeliinae, Gerochellinae and the Scythiolininae Neagu) are new. The classification is modified from the suprageneric scheme used by Loeblich & Tappan (1992), and incorporates all the new genera described up to and including the year 2000. The major differences from the Loeblich & Tappan classification are (1) the use of suborders within the hierarchical classification scheme (2) use of a modified Mikhalevich (1995) suprageneric scheme for the Astrorhizida (3) transfer of the Ammodiscacea to the Astrorhizida (4) restriction of the Lituolida to forms with simple wall structure (5) supression of the order Trochamminida, and (6) inclusion of the Carterinida within the Trochamminacea (7) use of the new order Loftusiida for forms with complex inner structures (8) broadening the definition of the Textulariida to include perforate forms that are initially uniserial or planispiral. Numerous minor corrections have been made based on the recent literature.

Abstract: The classification of the Foraminifera, a widely distributed group of largely marine protists, has traditionally been based on morphological characters. The most important of these are the composition and structure of the shell or ''test.'' Here, we use both phylogenetic analysis of the genes for small subunit rRNA and b-tubulin and ultrastructural analysis to document a reversion in wall type from more derived calcareous tests to an agglutinated test. These data indicate that the genus Miliammina, and possibly other members of the Rzehakinidae, should be placed in the Order Miliolida as opposed to their current assignment in Order Textulariida. We also address the effects this reversion may have had on the ability of rzehakinacids to effectively colonize marginal marine environments. Finally, the hypothesis that some multilocular agglutinated foraminiferans descended from calcareous lineages has implications for interpretation of the foraminiferal fossil record.

Abstract: Taxonomy and distribution of recent meiobenthic intertidal foraminifera in the coastal tract of Midnapore District have been studied for a period of two years (March, 2009- February, 2011). A total of 44 meiobenthic foraminiferal species belonging to 22 genera, 17 families, 14 super families and 7 orders has been recorded from the intertidal belts of this coastal environment. Faunal assemblages revealed a dominance of the order Rotaliida (20 species) followed by the order Miliolida (9 species), order Lituolida (7 species), Lagenida (3 species), Trochamminida (2 species), Buliminida (2 species) and order Textulariida (1 species). Asterorotalia trispinosa, A. multispinosa, A. dentata, Ammonia beccarii, A. tepida, Miliammina fusca, Quinqueloculina seminulum, Trochammina inflata, Ammobaculites agglutinans, Elphidium hispidulum, and E. crispum were found to be the most abundant foraminifera recorded from different study sites during different seasons.