Hastigerinellaeocanica Nuttall, 1928:376, pl. 50: figs. 9-11 [upper Eocene, Uzpanapa River, Mexico].—Saito and others, 1976:292, pl. 3: figs. 3a-c [middle Eocene, DSDP Hole 21A, South Atlantic Ocean].
Clavigerinellaeocanicaeocanica (Nuttall).—Blow, 1979:1198-1203, pl. 151: figs. 1-3; pl. 157: fig. 9; pl. 162: figs. 1-3, 5-7 [Zone P9-P10, Kane 9-C Piston Core, Endeavour Seamount, equatorial Atlantic Ocean].— Toumarkine and Luterbacher, 1985:119, pl. 22; figs. 2-3 [middle Eocene Morozovellalehneri Zone, El Datil Fm., Margarita, Venezuela].
Clavigerinella cf. eocanica (Nuttall) (sensu lato).—Blow, 1979:1202-1203, pl. 151: fig. 4; pl. 157: fig. 8 [Zone P9-P10, Kane 9-C Piston Core, Endeavour Seamount, equatorial Atlantic Ocean].
Clavigerinellaeocanica (Nuttall).—Pearson and others, 1993:128, pl. 3: figs. 14, 16 [Middle Eocene Zone P11-P12, DSDP Site 523, Walvis Ridge, South Atlantic Ocean].—Coxall and others, 2003:238, pl. 1: figs. 9-14 [lower middle Eocene Zone P10, ODP Site 865, equatorial Pacific Ocean].
Clavigerinella cf. akersi Bolli, Loeblich and Tappan.—Bolli, 1957:162, pl. 35: fig. 3a-b [Hantkeninaaragonensis zone, Navet Fm., Trinidad]. [Not Bolli, Loeblich and Tappan, 1957.]
Clavigerinellajarvisi (Cushman). —Postuma, 1971:132, pl. on p. 133, 4 specimens, right hand column [middle Eocene Globorotaliabullbrooki Zone to Globigerapsiskugleri Zone, Navet Fm., Trinidad]. [Not Cushman, 1930.]
Taxonomic discussion: Toumarkine and Luterbacher (1985) designated the specimen figured by Nuttall (1928) pl. 50: fig. 9 as the lectotype from three original illustrated cotypes. On recent examination of Nuttall’s Hastigerinellaeocanica ( =Clavigerinellaeocanica) cotype suite in the USNM collection (11 in total), however, no specimen could be found that exactly matched this illustration, although two are very similar (i.e., same number, orientation and length of chambers). Either the actual figured specimen is lost or the illustration is inaccurate. The SEM image illustrated as the probable lectotype of C. eocanica in this work (Pl.8.1, Figs. 10, 11) is the closest match among Nuttall’s cotypes to the illustration of the lectotype figured by Toumarkine and Luterbacher (1985). [Coxall & Pearson 2006]
Distinguishing features: Parent taxon (Clavigerinella): Final chambers clavate. This taxon: Final chambers smoothly rounded, clavate
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: Clavigerinellaeocanica is distinguished from all other clavigerinellids in having unmodified, smoothly rounded clavate chambers. It can be distinguished from its Miocene homeomorph Clavatorellabermudezi by the greater lateral compression and shell symmetry (along the equatorial plane), and fully equatorial position of the aperture. It differs from Parasubbotinaeoclava in having better-developed clavate chambers, near planispiral coiling, and a higher-arched, equatorially positioned aperture. It differs from P. prebetica by the lower, near-planispiral coiling, greater lateral compression and possession of a high-arched, equatorial aperture. [Coxall & Pearson 2006] Morphology: Planispiral or pseudoplanispiral, evolute, laterally compressed biumbilicate or showing a subtly raised spiral side and very shallow umbilicus; 4-4½ rapidly enlarging chambers in the final whorl; early chambers rounded, final 2-3 adult chambers conspicuously elongated in to club-shaped (clavate) extensions; highly lobular peripheral outline; distal chamber ends smoothly rounded; equatorial high arched aperture, symmetrical or slightly asymmetrical, bordered by a smooth broad imperforate lip, relict apertural lips often present along sutures; sutures are shallow, straight, becoming curved in later stages, short relative to total chamber length. [Coxall & Pearson 2006] Wall type: Usually smooth, normal perforate, sometimes weakly cancellate; possibly spinose. [Coxall & Pearson 2006] Size: Maximum diameter 300-800 µm. [Coxall & Pearson 2006]
Character matrix
test outline:
Stellate
chamber arrangement:
Pseudoplanispiral
edge view:
Hourglass
aperture:
Equatorial
sp chamber shape:
Elongate
coiling axis:
N/A
periphery:
N/A
aperture border:
Thick lip
umb chbr shape:
Elongate
umbilicus:
Wide
periph margin shape:
Narrowly rounded
accessory apertures:
Relict
spiral sutures:
Moderately depressed
umb depth:
Shallow
wall texture:
Cancellate
shell porosity:
Finely Perforate: 1-2.5µm
umbilical or test sutures:
Moderately depressed
final-whorl chambers:
4-4.5
N.B. These characters are used for advanced search. N/A - not applicable
Biogeography and Palaeobiology
Geographic distributionClavigerinellaeocanica is the most commonly encountered species of the genus and has been found in open ocean as well as marginal settings worldwide at mid-low latitudes. [Coxall & Pearson 2006]
Aze et al. 2011 summary: Low to middle latitudes; based on Coxall & Pearson (2006) Isotope paleobiologyClavigerinellaeocanica has high δ18O and low δ13C indicating that it lived in a cold, deep possibly subthermocline habitat (Pearson and others, 1993; Coxall and others, 2000). [Coxall & Pearson 2006] Aze et al. 2011 ecogroup 4 - Open ocean sub-thermocline. Based on very light _13C and very heavy _18O. Sources cited by Aze et al. 2011 (appendix S3): Pearson et al. (1993); Coxall et al. (2000) Phylogenetic relationsThis species evolved from Parasubbotinaeoclava in Zone E7 by elongation of the chambers and lowering of the coil height to form a planispiral. It diversified shortly after its origin to produce a series of morphotypes including C. caucasica, which was the ancestor of Hantkenina. Detailed understanding of the relationship between C. eocanica and other clavigerinellids is lacking because of their sporadic geographic and stratigraphic occurrence. [Coxall & Pearson 2006]
Geological Range: Notes: Upper Zone E7 to E16. This species is most characteristic of the lower middle Eocene, but has been observed ranging into the upper Eocene (Pearson and Chaisson, 1997). [Coxall & Pearson 2006] Last occurrence (top): in mid part of E16 zone (50% up, 34.3Ma, in Priabonian stage). Data source: Coxall & Pearson (2006), fig 8.1 First occurrence (base): in upper part of E7a subzone (60% up, 49.1Ma, in Ypresian stage). Data source: Coxall & Pearson (2006), fig 8.1
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
Histogram - Neptune occurrence data from DSDP and ODP proceedings. Pale shading <50 samples in time bin. Interpret with caution & read these notes
Taxon plotted: Clavigerinella eocanica, synonyms included - Clavigerinella eocanica;
Primary source for this page: Coxall & Pearson 2006 - Eocene Atlas, chap. 8, p. 222
References:
Blow, W. H. (1979). The Cainozoic Globigerinida: A study of the morphology, taxonomy, evolutionary relationships and stratigraphical distribution of some Globigerinida (mainly Globigerinacea). E. J. Brill, Leiden. 2: 1-1413. gs
Bolli, H. M. (1957a). Planktonic foraminifera from the Eocene Navet and San Fernando formations of Trinidad. In, Loeblich, A. R. , Jr., Tappan, H., Beckmann, J. P., Bolli, H. M., Montanaro Gallitelli, E. & Troelsen, J. C. (eds) Studies in Foraminifera. U.S. National Museum Bulletin . 215: 155-172. gs
Coxall, H. K. & Pearson, P. N. (2006). Taxonomy, biostratigraphy, and phylogeny of the Hantkeninidae (Clavigerinella, Hantkenina and Cribrohantkenina). In, Pearson, P. N., Olsson, R. K., Hemleben, C., Huber, B. T. & Berggren, W. A. (eds) Atlas of Eocene Planktonic Foraminifera. Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research, Special Publication . 41(Chap 8): 213-256. gsO
Coxall, H. K., Pearson, P. N., Shackleton, N. J. & Hall, M. A. (2000). Hantkeninid depth adaptation: An evolving life strategy in a changing ocean. Geology. 28: 87-90. gs
Coxall, H. K., Huber, B. T. & Pearson, P. N. (2003). Origin and morphology of the Eocene planktonic foraminifera Hantkenina. Journal of Foraminiferal Research. 33: 237-261. gs
Cremades Campos, J. (1980). Eoclavatorella; nuevo genero de foraminifero planctonico del Eoceno inferior. Cuadernos de Geologia, Universidad de Granada. 11: 209-214. gs
Cushman, J. A. (1930). Fossil species of Hastigerinella. Contributions from the Cushman Laboratory for Foraminiferal Research. 6(1): 17-19. gs
Loeblich, A. R. & Tappan, H. (1957b). Planktonic foraminifera of Paleocene and early Eocene Age from the Gulf and Atlantic coastal plains. In, Loeblich, A. R. , Jr., Tappan, H., Beckmann, J. P., Bolli, H. M., Montanaro Gallitelli, E. & Troelsen, J. C. (eds) Studies in Foraminifera. U.S. National Museum Bulletin . 215: 173-198. gs
Nuttall, W. L. F. (1928). Notes on the Tertiary Foraminifera of Southern Mexico. Journal of Paleontology. 2(4): 375-376. gs
Pearson, P. N. & Chaisson, W. P. (1997). Late Paleocene to middle Miocene planktonic foraminifer biostratigraphy, Ceara Rise. Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results. 154: 33-68. gs
Pearson, P. N., Shackleton, N. J. & Hall, M. A. (1993). Stable isotope paleoecology of middle Eocene planktonic foraminifera and multi-species isotope stratigraphy, DSDP Site 523, South Atlantic. Journal of Foraminiferal Research. 23: 123-140. gs
Saito, T., Thompson, P. R. & Breger, D. (1976). Skeletal ultra-microstructure of some elongate-chambered planktonic foraminifera and related species. In, Takayanagi, Y. & Saito, T. (eds) Progress in Micropaleontology, Special Publication. Micropaleontology Press, The American Museum of Natural History, New York 278-304. gs
Toumarkine, M. & Luterbacher, H. (1985). Paleocene and Eocene planktic foraminifera. In, Bolli, H. M., Saunders, J. B. & Perch-Neilsen, K. (eds) Plankton Stratigraphy. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge 87-154. gs
Clavigerinella eocanica compiled by the pforams@mikrotax project teamviewed: 25-1-2026
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Eocene_Atlas_pl08-1_fig14.jpg
Eocene_Atlas_pl08-1_fig15-19A.jpg
Eocene_Atlas_pl08-1_fig15-19.jpg
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lectotype: H. eocanica
lectotype: H. eocanica
x: H. eocanica
