Distinguishing features: Parent taxon (Pulleniatina): Compact streptospiral test with smooth cortical coating and large slit-like aperture This taxon: Like P. primalis but slightly petaloid biconvex test, more triangular umbilical chamber shape and acute periphery.
NB These concise distinguishing features statements are used in the tables of daughter-taxa to act as quick summaries of the differences between e.g. species of one genus. They are being edited as the site is developed and comments on them are especially welcome.
Description
Diagnostic characters: Convexly rounded initial portion of the trochospire as seen in lateral view, with a well rounded pseudo keel.
Pulleniatina praespectabilis intergrades with both P. primalis and P. spectabilis. It is distinguished from P. primalis by the slightly petaloid biconvex test, more triangular umbilical chamber shape and acute, periphery, especially of the last chamber. It is distinguished from P. spectabilis by being less anguloconical, less petaloid in outline and lacking the distinctly pinched rim of the last few chambers. [Pearson et al. 2025] Aperture: Extraumbilical medium to low arch without lip or rim [Aze 2011, based on Bolli & Saunders 1985]. Aperture a broad sub-rectangular to slightly arched opening in an intra-extraumbilical position extending to the periphery in some specimens. [Pearson et al. 2025] Emended description: Nonspinose, porous and weakly cancellate wall, pustulose on the chamber shoulders around and within the aperture. Wall moderately thick, test covered in the terminal stage in a translucent non-porous cortex with a smooth reflective surface that is usually degraded by diagenesis to a dull glossy sheen. Test small to medium sized, biconvex with ventrally involute trochospiral coiling; outline slightly petaloid. Typically 4–5 chambers in final whorl, increasing moderately in size; earlier chambers globular, becoming wedge-shaped in umbilical view in last few adult chambers with an acute rounded periphery; chambers appressed and embracing, sutures gently curving, weakly depressed. Test lacks a true umbilicus because of the umbilically encroaching chambers. Aperture a broad sub-rectangular to slightly arched opening in an intra-extraumbilical position extending to the periphery in some specimens.[Pearson et al. 2025] Wall type: Non-spinose; Smooth [Aze 2011]
Character matrix
test outline:
Lobate
chamber arrangement:
Trochospiral
edge view:
Planoconvex
aperture:
Umbilical-extraumbilical
sp chamber shape:
Crescentic
coiling axis:
Low
periphery:
N/A
aperture border:
N/A
umb chbr shape:
Subtriangular
umbilicus:
Narrow
periph margin shape:
Narrowly rounded
accessory apertures:
None
spiral sutures:
Flush
umb depth:
Shallow
wall texture:
Smooth
shell porosity:
Macroperforate: >2.5µm
umbilical or test sutures:
Flush
final-whorl chambers:
5-6
N.B. These characters are used for advanced search. N/A - not applicable
Biogeography and Palaeobiology
Geographic distribution Low latitudes [Aze et al. 2011, based on Bolli & Saunders (1985)]
[SCOR WG138]
Isotope paleobiologyAze et al. 2011 ecogroup 3 - Open ocean thermocline; based on comparison with other species of the genus. Phylogenetic relationsDescended from P. primalis and gave rise to P. spectabilis. [Pearson et al. 2025]
Most likely ancestor: Pulleniatina primalis - at confidence level 2 (out of 5). Data source: Kennett & Srinivasan 1983, fig 22 do not separate P. spectabilis praespectablis but record spectabilis as evolving from primalis. NB Aze et al. (2011) assign P. obliquiloculata as ancestor of P. praespectabilis but without explanation.. Likely descendants:Pulleniatina spectabilis; plot with descendants
Biostratigraphic distribution
Geological Range: Last occurrence (top): within PL1 [Atl.] zone (4.37-5.72Ma, top in Zanclean stage). Data source: Aze et al. 2011 First occurrence (base): within PL1 [Atl.] zone (4.37-5.72Ma, base in Messinian stage). Data source: Aze et al. 2011
Plot of occurrence data:
Range-bar - range as quoted above, pink interval top occurs in, green interval base occurs in.
Triangles indicate an event for which a precise placement has been suggested.
Grey shading between taxa indicates intergrading species within an anagenetic lineage (data from
Lamyman et al. 2026).
Histogram - Neptune occurrence data from DSDP and ODP proceedings. Pale shading <50 samples in time bin. Interpret with caution & read these notes
Taxon plotted: Pulleniatina praespectabilis, synonyms included - Pulleniatina praespectabilis;
Aze, T., et al. (2011). A phylogeny of Cenozoic macroperforate planktonic foraminifera from fossil data. Biological Reviews. 86: 900-927. gs
Bolli, H. M. & Saunders, J. B. (1985). Oligocene to Holocene low latitude planktic foraminifera. In, Bolli, H. M., Saunders, J. B. & Perch-Neilsen, K. (eds) Plankton Stratigraphy. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK 155-262. gs
Brönnimann, P. & Resig, J. (1971). A Neogene globigerinacean biochronologic time-scale of the southwestern Pacific. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project. 7(2): 1235-1469. gsO
Kennett, J. P. & Srinivasan, M. S. (1983). Neogene Planktonic Foraminifera. Hutchinson Ross Publishing Co., Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. 1-265. gs
Pearson, P. N., Fabbrini, A. & Wade, B. S. (2025). Systematic taxonomy of Pulleniatina. Journal of Foraminiferal Research. 55(3): 245-275. gs
Pulleniatina praespectabilis compiled by the pforams@mikrotax project teamviewed: 5-9-2026
K_S 1983 50-4.JPG
K_S 1983 50-4.JPG
holotype: P. spectabilis praespectabilis
