GeolCarp_Vol60_No5_419

www.geologicacarpathica.sk

GEOLOGICA CARPATHICA, OCTOBER 2009, 60, 5, 419—430 doi: 10.2478/v10096-009-0030-3

Introduction

The  Mediterranean  Sea  and  the  Paratethys  were  formed  as
new  marine  realms  during  the  Late  Eocene  (Popov  et  al.
1993;  Rögl  1999).  These  basins  underwent  complex  paleo-
geogeographical changes especially in the Miocene, such as
the opening and closing of marine connections with the Indi-
an Ocean to the East and the Mediterranean Sea and the At-
lantic Ocean to the West (Rögl 1999, 2001).

Strong geographical separation also took place within the

Paratethys.  Basin  formation  led  to  semi-independent  evolu-
tion  of  the  Western  (from  the  Rhone  Basin  to  Western  Ba-
varia),  Central  (from  Bavaria  to  the  eastern  foredeep  of  the
Carpathian)  and  Eastern  (from  the  Euxinian  basin  complex
to Lake Aral) Paratethyan realms (Rögl 1999; Steininger &
Wessely 2000; Piller & Harzhauser 2005).

In particular, in the Middle Miocene a regressive phase took

place  at  the  end  of  the  Badenian  (Central  Paratethys)  corre-
sponding to the Konkian (Eastern Paratethys) leading to a dra-
matic  change  in  marine  biota  (Harzhauser  &  Piller  2007).  A
restriction of the connections between the Paratethys and the
open ocean occurred at the beginning of the latest Middle Mi-
ocene  and  the  connections  with  the  Indo-Pacific  disappeared
(Rögl  1999;  Harzhauser  &  Piller  2007).  In  the  Middle—Late
Miocene  the  Paratethys  was  composed  of  different  semi-en-
closed  sub-basins  including  the  Pannonian  in  the  Central
Paratethys  and  Euxinic—Caspian  Basins  in  the  Eastern  Para-
tethys (Kolesnikov 1935). Thus, the complex evolution of the
Paratethys is reflected in the distribution and evolution of the
fauna and flora with the proliferation of foraminifera, differing
in abundance and composition from those of open oceans (e.g.
Iaccarino 1985; Rögl 1985; Cicha et al. 1998).

This setting makes correlation of sediments between these

realms both interesting and problematic. In the past, different

Taxonomic revision and new species/subspecies of

Middle-Late Miocene (Bessarabian) miliolids of the Family

Hauerinidae Schwager from Georgia – Eastern Paratethys

LAMARA MAISURADZE

, KAKHABER KOIAVA

and SILVIA SPEZZAFERRI

The Georgian National Museum, L. Davitashvili Institute of Paleobiology, Tbilisi, Georgia; lamaramaisuradze@yahoo.com

The Georgian Academy of Science, Alexandre Djanelidze Institute of Geology, Tbilisi, Georgia; koiava_ka@yahoo.com

University of Fribourg, Department of Geosciences, Ch. du Musée 6, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland; silvia.spezzaferri@unifr.ch

(Revised manuscript received March 16, 2009; accepted in April 20, 2009)

Abstract: Three new miliolid taxa from Bessarabian sediments from Georgia (Eastern Paratethys) are described fol-
lowing the classification of Łuczkowska (1972), which has never been used before by ex-Soviet micropaleontologists.
They are: Varidentella luczkowskae; Varidentella reussi (Bogdanowicz) subsp. costulata; and Affinetrina voloshinovae
(Bogdanowicz) subsp. eldarica. This classification takes into account the morphology of the aperture and the shape and
size of teeth as criteria to distinguish the species. This study contributes important criteria which will help to unify the
taxonomical inconsistencies between the Eastern, Central and Western Paratethyan miliolids.

Key words: Bessarabian, Georgia, Paratethys, Foraminifera, miliolid.

chrono/geochronological  time  scales  were  applied  in  studies
of  these  two  basins  (e.g.  Steininger  &  Wessely  2000).  The
lack  of  dialogue  between  western  and  eastern  countries,  has
led  to  two  independent  sets  of  geological  and  stratigraphical
correlations. In particular, the Sarmatian regional stage is de-
fined differently in the Western and Central with respect to the
Eastern Paratethys (e.g. Steininger & Wessely 2000; Piller &
Harzhauser 2005). Figure 1 shows the stratigraphic correlation
between  Middle-Late  Miocene  Mediterranean,  Central  and
Eastern Paratethys regions.

Fig. 1. Stratigraphic correlation between Mediterranean and Para-
tethyan stages. The Sarmatian regional stage spans a longer time in
the eastern basin. Modified after Piller & Harzhauser (2005) and
Harzhauser & Piller (2007). The regional stages Volhynian = N

;

Bessarabian = N

; Khersonian = N

after Koiava (2006).

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MAISURADZE, KOIAVA and SPEZZAFERRI

Previous studies on the Family Hauerinidae

Miliolids belonging to the Family Hauerinidae are very

abundant in Miocene deposits from the Paratethys and are use-
ful for dating and characterizing these sediments. In particular,
their  consistent  regional  development  and  their  distribution,
seem  to  be  related  to  the  local/regional  paleoenvironmental
conditions  of  the  different  sub-basins  of  the  Paratethyan
realms (Maisuradze 1971).

The classification of the Family Hauerinidae Schwager

(1876) is very complex and is still being debated. D’Orbigny
(1826)  separated  this  group  of  miliolids  into  five  genera
Biloculina, Triloculina, Quinqueloculina, Spiroloculina and
Adelosina based on the number and shape of the chambers in
the last whorl. Williamson (1858) grouped the genera Quin-
queloculina  d’Orbigny  and  Triloculina  d’Orbigny  into  one
single genus Miliolina. Brady (1884) also included Adelosi-
na d’Orbigny into the genus Miliolina Williamson. Schlum-
berger (1887, 1893) described the two genera Sigmoilina and
Massilina. Wiesner (1931) included them in the genus Milio-
lina  Williamson.  However,  he  separated  the  genus  Milio-
linella characterized by a flat, plate-like tooth. Bogdanowicz
(1947, 1952) followed Brady’s (1884) classification, but also
included  Massilina  Schlumberger  in  the  genus  Miliolina
Williamson. In addition Bogdanowicz (1960) proposed, that
the amplitude of the angle between the successive chambers
should be the main criteria for diving miliolids and restored
the  genera  Quinqueloculina  d’Orbigny  and  Triloculina
d’Orbigny,  characterized  by  an  angle  of  72°,  and  120°  be-
tween  successive  chambers,  respectively.  Vella  (1957)  di-
vided  the  genus  Quinqueloculina  d’Orbigny  into  three
subgenera:  Quinqueloculina  (Quinqueloculina)  d’Orbigny,
Quinqueloculina  (Lachlanella)  Vella,  Quinqueloculina  sen-
su lato which groups the remaining forms based on the wall
texture, tooth size and shape of aperture.

Since those pioneering studies the taxonomy of miliolids

has been revised many times (e.g. Loeblich & Tappan 1964),
and the currently accepted taxonomy was proposed by Loe-
blich & Tappan (1988). However, Ex-USSR micropaleontol-
ogists have always used the “old” criteria suggested by
Bogdanowicz (1959, 1981) for taxonomic division, since
western literature is not available in their region.

Łuczkowska (1972, 1974) extensively studied the miliolid

fauna from Miocene deposits of Poland, and, at the beginning
of her studies, applied the classification of Loeblich & Tappan
(1964).  However,  in  the  course  of  her  research,  she  became
aware of some inconsistencies concerning the main diagnostic
criteria. For example, the main feature to separate the various
genera in the Subfamilies Quinqueloculininae Cushman, Mil-
iolinae Ehrenberg and Miliolinellininae Vella is the outline of
the  aperture,  but  in  the  Subfamilies  Fabulariinae  Reuss  and
Tubinellinae  Rhumbler  it  is  the  internal  construction  of  the
tests.  As  a  result,  species  that  were  characterized  by  similar
morphological features but had different shaped teeth were in-
cluded in the Subfamilies Quinqueloculininae Cushman, Mil-
iolinae  Ehrenberg  and  Miliolinellininae  Vella  and  were
considered  to  be  phylogenetically  related.  Furthermore,  gen-
era  with  a  non-quinqueloculiniform  coiling  mode  such  as
Flintina  Cushman,  Sigmoilina  Schlumberger,  Ptychomiliolla

Eimer & Fickert, Welmanella Finlay were included in the
Subfamily Quinqueloculininae Cushman. In the Subfamilies
Miliolinellinae Vella and Miliolinae Ehrenberg forms were in-
cluded, which were coiled like typical quinqueloculinids.

Therefore, Łuczkowska (1972, 1974) proposed a new clas-

sification  of  miliolids  based  on  the  inner  structure  of  the
shell, the general morphology, the shape and size of the ap-
erture  and  the  tooth.  She  identified  four  types  of  aperture
typical  for  Miocene  miliolids.  (1)  Wide,  oval-elongated,
with a simple-shaped long tooth, sometimes bifid at the end;
(2) high, narrow, with parallel edges and an elongated tooth;
(3) Closed, at the base of the last chamber, with a short V-like
tooth;  (4)  Open  semicircular,  placed  at  the  base  of  the  last
chamber  and  characterized  by  a  quadrangular  tooth,  which
sometimes may be reduced.

She also identified two subfamilies that include genera

still living today, based on the inner structure of the test, the
outline  of  the  aperture  and  the  shape  of  the  tooth.  (1)  Sub-
family  Quinqueloculininae  Cushman  emended  Łuczkowska
(1972), this group includes quinqueloculiniform species with
all  the  typical  characters  of  the  genus  Quinqueloculina.
These  forms  possess,  a  2-layer  wall  texture,  an  oval  and
elongate aperture, a long simple or bifid tooth, and an angle
of  140°

between the successive chambers. Five and three

chambers can be observed on the two sides of the test respec-
tively.  Beside  the  genus  Quinqueloculina  sensu  stricto  this
subfamily, included the two genera Lachlanella proposed by
Vella  (1957)  characterized  by  a  narrow,  elongated  and  fis-
sure-like  aperture  with  parallel  lips  and  a  simple  elongated
tooth; and Cycloforina Łuczkowska characterized by a circu-
lar aperture and a short tooth. (2) Subfamily Miliolinellinae
Vella  (1957)  emended  Łuczkowska  (1972).  This  second
group comprises forms with a crypto-quinqueloculinid coil-
ing mode. In these forms only three chambers are visible in
the  external  whorl,  however  two  smaller  and  concealed
chambers  are  present  which  complete  the  quinqueloculinid
coiling mode. Adult forms of this group display a triloculin-
id coiling mode, in which the chambers of the last whorl are
placed at 120°

from each other. In this group, forms are also

included which have rounded chambers coiled in planes at
130° (or more than 130°)

and the last chamber coiled at 90°

with respect to the previous chambers.

These forms were grouped into four new genera: (1) Vari-

dentella  Łuczkowska  with  a  semicircular  oblique  aperture
characterized  by  a  low  and  flat  tooth;  (2)  Affinetrina  Łucz-
kowska with a longitudinal slit-like aperture and a long tooth
similar to that of Lachlanella  Vella;  (3)  Sinuloculina  Łucz-
kowska with a circular aperture, a short bifurcate tooth, simi-
lar  to  that  in  Triloculina  d’Orbigny  and  Cycloforina
Łuczkowska,  and  the  chambers  of  the  last  whorl  coiled  at
180°. (4) Crenatella Łuczkowska, has a narrow slit-like ap-
erture with serrate edges, a crescent-like, oblique tooth in the
aperture  and  additionally  the  inner  structure  of  the  test  is
similar  to  the  structure  observed  in  the  Family  Miliolina
Ehrenberg.

The classification of Łuczkowska (1972, 1974) presents

some limitations. In particular, for its correct application it is
often necessary to study thin sections that show the inner
structure of the test, otherwise identification of high taxo-

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MAISURADZE, KOIAVA and SPEZZAFERRI

classification  they  placed  many  of  them  into  the  Family
Hauerinidae  Schwager.  According  to  Loeblich  &  Tappan
(1988) this family includes forms with a proloculus followed
by two chambers, rarely with intervening flexostyle. Cham-
bers are added in one to five or more planes of coiling. Rare-
ly the adult test may have more than two chambers per whorl
or  may  be  uncoiled  and  rectilinear.  The  aperture  placed  at
the end of the last chamber may have a simple or a complex
tooth. This family differs from the Family Miliolidae Ehren-
berg  because  the  genera  included  in  this  latter  present  nu-
merous perforations or pseudopores in the wall.

Presented here are the descriptions of one new species and

two sub-species according to the classification of Łuczkowska
(1972, 1974) modified by Loeblich & Tappan (1988). The ap-
plication of this classification, allows a better comparison be-
tween Western, Central and Eastern Paratethyan species and
contributes to unifying the taxonomy between the two regions.

Materials and methods

The benthic foraminiferal assemblages analysed in this

study come from two sections in Western and Eastern Geor-
gia,  respectively  (Koiava  2006).  The  Ochkhamuri  section  is
located in the gorge of river Ochkhamuri in Western Georgia,
at  a  distance  of  1 km  from  the  village  of  Lesichino,  in  the
gorge  of  the  river  Ochkhamuri.  Sediments  span  the  regional
stage  N

(Koiava 2006) = Bessarabian. The Satskhenisi

section is located in the gorge of the river Satskhenisi about
1—1.5 km north-west from the village of Satskhenisi (Eastern
Georgia). Sediments span the regional stage N

= Vol-

hynian, and N

(Koiava 2006) = Bessarabian (Fig. 2).

Samples were washed using standard techniques for fora-

miniferal  preparation  (e.g.  Spezzaferri  &  Ćorić  2001).  The
entire collection is presently stored at the Georgian National
Museum,  L.  Davitashvili  Institute  of  Paleobiology  or  at  the
A.  Djanelidze  Institute  of  Geology,  in  Tbilisi.  Scanning
Electron  Microscope  (SEM)  images  were  obtained  with  the
FEI  XL30  Sirion  FEG  microscope  at  the  University  of  Fri-
bourg, Department of Geosciences.

Sedimentology

The lithology and the studied samples together with the thick-

ness of the five distinct layers that can be observed in the Och-
khamuri and Satskhenisi sections are reported in Figs. 3 and 4.

The Ochkhamuri section consists of 5 layers: Layer 1 is 9 m

thick and consists of bluish-grey clays with sandy clay layers;
Layer 2 is 3 m thick and consists of bluish-grey clays with in-
tercalation  of  sandstone  layers;  Layer 3  is  5 m  thick  and  is
characterized  by  alternating  clay  and  sandstone  layers;  Lay-
er 4  is  5 m  thick  and  consists  of  bluish-grey  sandy  clays;
Layer 5 is 6 m thick and consists of grey marls.

The Satskhenisi sections consist of 6 layers: Layer 1 is

80 m thick and consists of bluish-grey clays with intercala-
tions of yellowish-grey sandstones and greyish sandy clays;
Layer 2 is 57 m thick and consists of bluish-grey clays with
interlayered yellowish-grey sandstones and greyish sandy

clays at the lower parts of it; Layer 3 is 7 m thick and con-
sists of bluish-grey clays; Layer 4 is 20 m thick and consists
of bluish-grey clays; Layer 5 is 3 m thick and consists of yel-
lowish-grey sandstones; Layer 6 is 95 m, it consists of blu-
ish-grey clays with interbedded yellowish-grey sandstones.

Taxonomy

Maisuradze (1971) informally described a few species of

Bessarabian miliolids from Georgia but left them in the open
nomenclature. These species are now officially described ac-
cording to Łuczkowska (1972, 1974) with modification by
Loeblich & Tappan (1988) and presented for the first time in
western literature. Their distribution and accompanying as-
semblages are documented in Figs. 3 and 4.

Suborder: Miliolina Delage & Hérouad, 1896

Superfamily: Miliolacea Ehrenberg, 1839

Family: Hauerinidae Schwager, 1876

Subfamily: Hauerininae Schwager, 1876

Genus: Varidentella Łuczkowska, 1972

Varidentella reussi costulata subsp. nov.

Fig. 5.1a—c,2a—c,3a—c

1971 Quinqueloculina sp. Maisuradze, pl. IV, figs. 3a—c; 4a—c

no 1974 Varidentella georgiana Łuczkowska, p. 138, pl. XXVII,

figs. 3—4

no 1998 Varidentella reussi Cicha et al., p. 136, pl. 17, figs. 13—14

M o t i v a t i o n : Maisuradze (1971) described this form as

belonging to the Q. reussi group. However, the main differ-
ence between typical V. reussi and the taxon described here
is the presence of numerous striae as ornamentation of the
wall texture.

In particular, Maisuradze (1971) identified this subspecies

and  termed  it  Quinqueloculina  sp.  and  Łuczkowska  (1974)
described it as Varidentella georgiana. However, V. georgi-
ana  differs  from  the  forms  described  in  Maisuradze  (1971)
by the general outline of the test. Varidentella georgiana is
rounded, the chambers are strongly arched forming semicir-
cles and the proximal part near the aperture is strongly con-
vex.  Additionally,  the  tooth  is  slightly  oval.  The  outline  of
Quinqueloculina  sp.  as  described  by  Maisuradze  (1971)  is
wide-oval, the tooth is wide and sub-quadrangular more sim-
ilar  to  the  V.  reussi  group.  Therefore,  V.  georgiana  and
Quinqueloculina sp. of Maisuradze (1971) should be consid-
ered as two distinct taxa and Quinqueloculina sp. should be
regarded as related to V. reussi because of its strong resem-
blance to this species. Additionally, V. georgiana Łuczkows-
ka is a typical form from the Lower Sarmatian (Volhynian)
deposits of the Western and Central Paratethys. According to
our data, V. reussi costulata first occurs only in Bessarabian
deposits of Georgia, Crimea, Moldova and Pre-Caucasus.

H o l o t y p e : It is presented in Fig. 5.1a—c, and it is stored

at the Georgian National Museum, L. Davitashvili Institute
of Paleobiology with the reference number 14/M.

426

MAISURADZE, KOIAVA and SPEZZAFERRI

D e r i v a t i o n o f t h e n a m e : Because of the presence of

striae and costae as ornamentation of the wall texture.

D e s c r i p t i o n : The test is rounded, rarely broadly-oval,

inflated,  with  a  rounded  basis  and  an  oblique  aperture.  The
arrangement of the chambers is crypto-quinqueloculiniform.
The peripheral margin is rounded. Length and width are ap-
proximately  equal.  The  side  where  4  to  3  chambers  in  the
last  whorl  are  observed  is  always  convex.  The  side  with  3
chambers in the last whorl is flat, concave or convex; the su-
tures  are  depressed  and  distinct.  The  aperture  is  oblique,
elongate and oval, encompassing the whole width of the last
chamber and is bordered by a lip-like structure. The tooth in
the aperture is low and wide, slightly bifid. The wall is thin,
appearing almost translucent and the surface is covered with
dense and fine longitudinal striae.

D i m e n s i o n s : Width – 0.45—0.65 mm; length – 0.32—

0.49 mm; thickness – 0.23—0.35 mm.

V a r i a b i l i t y : The morphological features that character-

ize  this  subspecies  are  generally  consistent.  However,  the
size  of  the  tooth,  the  thickness  of  the  lip-like  structure
around the aperture, the rounded to wide oval outline of the
test  and  the  visible  number  of  chambers  may  vary  slightly
from specimen to specimen.

R e m a r k s : The generic attribution of this species to Vari-

dentella  is  based  on  the  shape  of  the  tooth.  It  differs  from
Varidentella pseudocostata (Venglinski) described by Pope-
scu  (1995)  in  Volhynian  sediments  from  Romania,  because
V.  reussi  costulata  possesses  a  more  inflated  test,  and  the
striae  ornamenting  the  test  are  denser,  thinner  and  less
marked. The specimen described in Cicha et al. (1998) from
Sarmatian sediments from Poland, is more similar to the typ-
ical V. reussi, with an overall smooth wall texture with very
weak and rare striae only along the peripheral margins. This
form is characteristic for silty sediments (Figs. 3 and 4) that
were probably deposited in low energy environments. Hansen
& Dalberg (1979), showed that the presence of pits and costae
in symbiont bearing miliolids such as Amphisorus hemprichii
(Ehrenberg)  and  Triloculina  rupertiana  (Brady)  indicate  that
these features favour the uptake of CO

. However, a clear rela-

tionship between ecological conditions and test ornamenta-
tions is difficult to prove for the described species.

D i s t r i b u t i o n : The analysis of our material from several

locations suggests that V. reussi costulata is characteristic
for the Bessarabian and it is present in Georgia, but also in
other Paratethyan regions such as Crimea, Moldova and Bul-
garia (collection Maisuradze).

M a t e r i a l : 20 well preserved specimens.

Suborder: Miliolina Delage & Hérouad 1896

Superfamily: Miliolacea Ehrenberg, 1839

Family: Hauerinidae Schwager, 1876

Subfamily: Hauerininae Schwager, 1876

Genus: Varidentella Łuczkowska, 1972

Varidentella luczkowskae sp. nov.

Fig. 6.1a—c,2a—c,3a—c

1971 Quinqueloculina aff. sartaganica Maisuradze, p. 50, pl. III,

fig. 5a,b,v

M o t i v a t i o n : Karrer (1877) described Quinqueloculina

sarmatica  and  its  variations  –  var.  typica,  var.  elongata,
var.  virgata  from  Lower  Sarmatian  deposits  of  Austria.
Łuczkowska  (1972)  subsequently  attributed  Quinqueloculi-
na sarmatica and related forms to the genus Varidentella. In
particular, she also documented Varidentella aff. sartagani-
ca  as  a  species  related  to  V.  sartaganica  (Krashenninikov).
This  latter  species  is  probably  the  ancestor  of  many  Vol-
hynian and Bessarabian species of Varidentella, e.g. V. reus-
si, V. nanae, V. nanae megrelic (Maisuradze 1971).

Varidentella aff. sartaganica was also described by Mai-

suradze (1971) as possessing a broadly-oval or oval test
(length 1.5 times- or twice its width); a proximal edge, round-
ed and elongated towards the aperture and bordered by a col-
lar-like structure. According to Maisuradze (1971) this species
differs from Varidentella reussi by the more convex proximal
part, the more rounded periphery and the lower neck and
therefore it is now described as Varidentella luczkowskae.

H o l o t y p e : It is presented in Fig. 6.1a—c, and it is stored

at the Georgian National Museum, L. Davitashvili Institute
of Palebiology with the reference number 42/M.

T y p e l o c a l i t y : In the gorge of the river Ochkhamuri

(Western Georgia).

T y p e l e v e l : Bessarabian.
P a r a t y p e s a n d o t h e r m a t e r i a l : Number 42a/M

(Fig. 6.2a—c), is stored at the Georgian National Museum, L.
Davitashvili  Institute  of  Paleobiology  (collection  of  Mai-
suradze) and was found in the gorge of the river Ochkhamuri.
The  specimen  K/039/127  (Fig. 6.3a—c)  is  stored  at  the  A.
Djanelidze Institute of Geology (collection of Koiava, Spezza-
ferri),  it  was  found  in  sediments  from  the  gorge  of  the  river
Satskhenisi (Eastern Georgia).

D e r i v a t i o n o f t h e n a m e : After Eva Łuczkowska be-

cause of her valuable work on miliolids.

D e s c r i p t i o n : The test is oval, slightly convex. The

length is twice the width. Chambers are arranged in quinque-
loculinid-coiling mode. The peripheral margin is rounded.
On one side, 3 to 4 chambers are visible, on the other side,
which is flatter, only 2 to 3 chambers are visible. The cham-
bers are tubular, inflated, arched, larger at the proximal edge
and narrower towards the aperture. The sutures are broad and
distinct. The aperture is semicircular, oblique and elongated
and follows the outline of the chambers. A semicircular, con-
cave and lamellar tooth is present in the aperture. The wall
texture is smooth.

D i m e n s i o n s : Width – 0.37—0.28 mm; length – 0.67—

0.58 mm; thickness – 0.26—0.20 mm.

V a r i a b i l i t y : The characteristic morphology of this spe-

cies is generally consistent, no strong variability has been
observed. However, test outline may be oval to wide oval;
the tooth may display changes in size; visible chambers may
vary in number.

R e m a r k s : This species differs from the related species,

such as Varidentella sartaganica (Krashenninikov) in having
a broader oval test; a more rounded proximal edge at one side,
with tall neck elongated towards the aperture and a large test.

D i s t r i b u t i o n : Bessarabian deposits of Georgia.
M a t e r i a l : Thirty well preserved specimens and twenty

damaged specimens.

429

HAUERINIDAE SCHWAGER – TAXONOMIC REVISION OF BESSARABIAN MILIOLIDS (EASTERN PARATETHYS)

Suborder: Miliolina Delage & Hérouad, 1896

Superfamily: Miliolacea Ehrenberg, 1839

Family: Hauerinidae Schwager, 1876

Subfamily: Hauerininae Schwager, 1876

Genus: Affinetrina Łuczkowska, 1972

Affinetrina voloshinovae eldarica subsp. nov.

Fig. 7.1a—c, 2a—c, 3a—c

1956 Miliolina pseudovoloshinovae Pobedina – Pobedina et al.,

p. 112, pl. XII, fig. 3a,b,v. emended

1971 Quinqueloculina aff. voloshinovae (Bogdanowicz), Mai-

suradze, p. 47, pl. VII, figs. 2a,b,v; 3a,b,v

no 1995 Affinetrina ex group voloshinovae (Bogdanowicz), Popescu,

p. 90, pl. 1, figs. 12—14

M o t i v a t i o n : Affinetrina voloshinovae eldarica, origi-

nally termed Quinqueloculina aff. voloshinovae Bogdanow-
icz  was  described  by  Maisuradze  (1971)  from  Bessarabian
deposits of Western Georgia. Similar forms are also present
in coeval deposits of Eastern Georgia. In particular, they oc-
cur in the bore-hole Eldari-1 and in the outcrops Eldari and
Satskhenisi  (Koiava  2006).  These  forms  were  originally  de-
scribed by Pobedina et al. (1956) as Miliolina pseudovoloshi-
novae. However, after a careful revision of the type material
we propose to emend the species  Miliolina pseudovoloshino-
vae and include these forms characterized by knob-like orna-
mentation  instead  of  ribs  and  a  chink-like  aperture  with
elongate tooth in the Q. voloshinovae (Bogdanowicz) group.

H o l o t y p e : It is presented in Fig. 7.1a—c, and it is stored

at the Georgian National Museum. L. Davitashvili Institute
of Paleobiology with the reference number 41/M.

T y p e l o c a l i t y : The gorge of the river Ochkhamuri

(Western Georgia).

T y p e l e v e l : Bessarabian.
P a r a t y p e s : Number 41a/M (Fig. 7.2a—b) is stored at the

Georgian National Museum, L. Davitashvili Institute of Pa-
leobiology (collection of Maisuradze). Number K/035/127
(Fig. 7.3a—c) is stored at the A. Djanelidze Institute of Geo-
logy (collection of Koiava, Spezzaferri). All paratypes were
found in sediments of the gorge of the river Ochkhamuri
(Western Georgia).

D e r i v a t i o n o f t h e n a m e : According to the geograph-

ic location.

D e s c r i p t i o n : The test is irregularly elongated and oval,

more  or  less  convex  and  angular-rounded  at  the  basis.  The
aperture  is  straight  or  oblique-truncated.  The  test  is  longer
than wide (2 or 2.5 times). The arrangement of chambers is
quinqueloculiniform. The apertural side is rounded to subtri-
angular. The peripheral margin is round. The side displaying
three  to  four  chambers  is  generally  convex.  The  opposite
side showing two chambers is flat. Chambers are tubular, ob-
lique at the base, especially in the last one. The middle part
of  chambers  is  less  wide  than  at  the  bottom,  and  aperture.
The sutures are depressed but not always clearly visible.

The aperture is narrow, straight or oblique, elongated or

elongated-oval, generally wider at one side, with parallel
edges and bordered by a lip. It has a single elongate narrow
and club-shaped tooth. Sometimes the tooth is extended out-
side the aperture.

The wall texture is thick, massive and is covered by nu-

merous  irregular  longitudinal  pustule-like  striae,  which  are
more  developed  at  the  bottom  of  the  test  where  quite  often
they  are  presented  by  sharp-tipped  knobs.  Near  the  end  of
the aperture the wall texture becomes smoother.

D i m e n s i o n s : Length – 0.8—0.95 mm; width – 0.36—

0.4 mm; thickness – 0.25—0.35 mm.

V a r i a b i l i t y : The morphological features characterizing

this subspecies are generally consistent. However, the out-
line of the test varies from elongated to slightly oval, the size
of the tooth and the wall ornamentations can also be more or
less pronounced.

R e m a r k s : This subspecies is very similar to Affinetrina

voloshinovae  (Bogdanowicz),  but  it  differs  in  ornamenta-
tion: more pustule-like in A. voloshinovae eldarica and real
striae  in  A.  voloshinovae  (Bogdanowicz).  Additionally,  A.
voloshinovae pecteniformis (Bogdanowicz) differs from this
subspecies  in  having  a  hook-like  thick  low  end  of  the  last
chamber,  which  is  sharply  projected  over  the  edges  of  the
test; a wider round base; and a very coarse ornamentation, a
different outline of the aperture and tooth.

D i s t r i b u t i o n : Bessarabian of Georgia and Azerbaijan

(Vangengeim et al. 1989).

M a t e r i a l : Ten well preserved specimens.

Conclusion

Three new Bessarabian miliolid taxa occurring in Georgia

(Eastern  Paratethys)  are  described.  They  are:  Varidentella
luczkowskae, Varidentella reussi (Bogdanowicz) subsp. cos-
tulata,  and  Affinetrina  voloshinovae  (Bogdanowicz)  subsp.
eldarica. For the first time the classification of Łuczkowska
(1972),  based  on  the  morphology  of  the  aperture  and  the
shape and size of the tooth, is applied to Eastern Paratethyan
miliolids,  providing  the  framework  for  possible  taxonomic
comparison between eastern, central and western taxa.

Acknowledgments:  The  authors  thank  the  Swiss  National
Science Foundation SCOPES Project Ref. IB7320-110693/1
and  the  European  Union  INTAS  Project  No. 1000017-8930
that  made  the  collaboration  between  Georgia  and  Switzer-
land  possible.  Thanks  also  to  all  the  members  of  the  two
projects  for  fruitful  discussions.  The  suggestions  of  the  re-
viewers  (S.  Filipescu  and  an  anonymous)  greatly  improved
the  quality  of  this  article.  The  photos  of  the  foraminifera
were obtained at the Department of Geosciences, University
of  Fribourg.  Thanks  to  C.  Neururer  (Fribourg)  for  his  help
operating the SEM. A warm thank to R. Waite (Fribourg) for
correcting the English form.

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