New adherent foraminiferans from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) of south-central England

Abstract

Abstract. Three new species and one new genus of adherent foraminiferans have been found within bivalve borings in cobbles from the Faringdon Sponge-gravel (Upper Aptian) of south-central England. The new genus and species, Lapillincola faringdonensis is a uniserial textulariine with an initial planispiral coil and a multiple aperture. Lapillincola gen. nov. is a remarkable homeomorph of Arenonina Barnard, which was originally described as an agglutinated form. Arenonina is shown here to actually be calcareous and perforate, and thus a junior synonym of Rectocibicides Cushman & Ponton. Acruliammina parvispira sp. nov. is another uniserial textulariine with an initial coil. Bullopora ramosa sp. nov. is an adherent polymorphinid with a branching, irregular series of adherent chambers. These foraminiferans may have used the bivalve borings as spatial refuges from the abrasive, high energy environment of the Sponge-gravel.