RE-ILLUSTRATION AND REVISED TAXONOMY FOR SELECTED DEEP- SEA BENTHIC FORAMINIFERS

Abstract

In this article we present new illustrations together with updated taxonomic, biostratigraphic and paleoecological coverage for 36 deep-water benthic foraminiferal species, including ten holotypes, four paratypes, three syntypes, and one lectotype from collections at The Natural History Museum, London, the Smithsonian Institution, and Krakow University. High-resolution digital photography and an image manipulation application were used to produce completely focused colour composite images of these taxa. These images represent the closest representation of what the micropalaeontologist actually ‘sees’ through the microscope during the species-identification process. We focus on selected agglutinated and calcareous taxa that are of stratigraphical and/or paleoecological significance for ODP/IODP studies to highlight morphologic features, such as wall texture, grain and cement composition, test colour and opacity, shape of sutures, chamber arrangement, and inner structure including early ontogenic stages. These features represent important taxonomic criteria that are not readily detectable in SEM illustrations or conventional light photomicrographs.