Wezel (1966) tentatively attributed acrostoma to the genus “Globorotalia” in quotation marks because of its cancellate rather than smooth wall of typical Globorotalia or Turborotalia; he further suggested that a new subgenus should be erected to accommodate “G.” acrostoma as well as other species like “G.” mayeri and “G.” continuosa. Jenkins (1977) suggested that acrostoma is a junior synonym of semivera, while Poore (1979) suggested that acrostoma could be considered as a subspecies of mayeri. Despite the close morphologically similar characteristics with both semivera and mayeri, we recognize acrostoma as a unique taxon in large part because of its distinctive aperture and relatively limited biogeographic range in and around the Mediterranean and tropical Atlantic Ocean (e.g., Iaccarino, 1985). [Leckie et al. 2018]
Catalog entries: Globorotalia acrostoma
Type images:Distinguishing features:
Parent taxon (Paragloborotalia): Very low trochospiral test with low-arched umbilical-extraumbilical aperture with a thick lip; 4-5 chambers in the ultimate whorl, and a coarsely cancellate, sacculifer-type wall.
This taxon: Like P. pseudocontinuosa, but 4½ - 5 chambers and with a higher arched aperture; not very lobulate, often pentagonal in outline.
Typical 5 chambered forms are pentagonal in outline, but not very lobulate. Paragloborotalia acrostoma is similar to semivera in having 5 chambers in the final whorl and a compact test with a narrow umbilicus, but it differs from semivera by its distinctly higher arched, semi-circular aperture bordered by an imperforate rim or thin lip. It is distinguished from siakensis by its higher arched aperture and tendency for curved spiral-side sutures. Specimens of acrostoma with 4½ chambers in the final whorl (e.g., Spezzaferri, 1994) closely resemble pseudocontinuosa, but are differentiated from the latter by having a higher arched aperture. Paragloborotalia acrostoma differs from continuosa in the same ways that it does with pseudocontinuosa, but acrostoma is also distinguished by its more umbilical-extraumbilical aperture, compared with a more extraumbilical aperture in continuosa.
Paragloborotalia acrostoma is distinguished from mayeri by its slightly greater spiral-side convexity, narrower umbilicus, fewer chambers (typically 5 compared with 6), and more umbilical-extraumbilical aperture. Paragloborotalia acrostoma is transitional in morphologic character between semivera and mayeri, however, the similar first occurrences of acrostoma and mayeri during the latest Oligocene suggest that acrostoma either falls within the range of variability for early forms of mayeri, or that the two taxa are more distantly related homeomorphs. Because of the more compact nature of acrostoma, including its narrow umbilicus, and its distinctive semi-circular apertural characteristics and one fewer chamber than typical mayeri, we have retained acrostoma as a valid taxon. [Leckie et al. 2018]
Gr. (J.) acrostoma closely resembles Gr. (J.) mayeri but is easily distinguished by its four to four and one-half chambers in the final whorl and larger and higher-arched aperture. [Kennett & Srinivasan 1983]
Character matrix
| test outline: | Ovate | chamber arrangement: | Trochospiral | edge view: | Equally biconvex | aperture: | Umbilical-extraumbilical |
| sp chamber shape: | Globular | coiling axis: | Low | periphery: | N/A | aperture border: | Thin lip |
| umb chbr shape: | Globular | umbilicus: | Narrow | periph margin shape: | Broadly rounded | accessory apertures: | None |
| spiral sutures: | Weakly depressed | umb depth: | Shallow | wall texture: | Cancellate | shell porosity: | Macroperforate: >2.5µm |
| umbilical or test sutures: | Moderately depressed | final-whorl chambers: | 4.5-5 | N.B. These characters are used for advanced search. N/A - not applicable | |||
Most likely ancestor:
Paragloborotalia pseudocontinuosa - at confidence level 3 (out of 5). Data source: Leckie et al. 2018.
Geological Range:
Notes: Lower Miocene Subzone M1a to Zone M5. Wezel (1966) recorded a range from the Catapsydrax dissimilis Zone to Globigerinatella insueta Zone with questionable occurrences in or near the Globigerina ciperoensis ciperoensis-Globorotalia kugleri zonal boundary (Oligocene/Miocene boundary). Spezzaferri (1994) recorded a lowest occurrence of acrostoma near the Oligocene/Miocene boundary Subzone N4a. Multiple authors record acrostoma in Zone N8 (M5). [Leckie et al. 2018]
Last occurrence (top): within M5 zone (15.10-16.38Ma, top in Langhian stage). Data source: Leckie et al. 2018
First occurrence (base): within M1a subzone (22.44-22.96Ma, base in Aquitanian stage). Data source: Leckie et al. 2018
Plot of occurrence data:
Primary source for this page: Leckie et al. 2018 - Olig Atlas chap.5 p.130; Kennett & Srinivasan 1983, p.176
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Paragloborotalia acrostoma compiled by the pforams@mikrotax project team viewed: 18-6-2026
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