Pu. praepulleniatina Bronniman and Resig (1971) - an intermediate form which links N. acostaensis with Pu. primalis [according to Kennett & Srinivasan 1983]
Taxonomic discussion: Brummer & Kucera 2022 suggests that records of this species in the plankton probably refer to P. obliquiloculata
Distinguishing features: Parent taxon (Pulleniatina): Compact streptospiral test with smooth cortical coating and large slit-like aperture This taxon: Subglobular test, low arched intra-extraumbilical aperture.
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: Trochospiral intially becoming streptospiral, broadly rounded chambers, spherical test covered in thick cortex. Pulleniatina primalis is distinguished from Neogloboquadrina acostaensis by its larger size, more inflated ventral side with a final chamber that partly obscures the umbilicus, lack of an apertural lip or flange, and the presence of a reflective cortex. It fully intergrades with P. praecursor and P. praespectabilis. It is distinguished from P. praecursor by its more regular trochospiral coiling, slightly smaller adult size, and less spherical morphology with an aperture that does not extend to the periphery. It is distinguished from P. praespectabilis by the rounded rather than acute periphery and less triangular umbilical chambers. [Pearson et al. 2025] Aperture: Interiomarginal umbilical-extraumbilical low arch at the base of the final chamber [Aze 2011, based on Kennett & Srinivasan 1983] Emended description: Nonspinose, porous and weakly cancellate wall, pustolose on the chamber shoulders around and within the aperture. In the terminal stage, test covered in a translucent nonporous cortex with a smooth reflective surface that is usually degraded by diagenesis to a dull glossy sheen. The cortex is less well-developed and often incomplete in the earliest populations. Test small to medium sized, subglobular, trochospiral, slightly involute ventrally; typically 4 to 5 chambers in final whorl, increasing moderately in size. Earlier chambers globular, becoming slightly wedge shaped with a rounded periphery. Umbilicus narrow or obscured by encroaching final chamber. Chambers appressed and embracing, sutures gently curving, depressed. Aperture a broad low arch in an intra-extraumbilical position, not quite extending to the periphery. [Pearson et al. 2025] Morphology: Test medium, low trochospiral, becoming streptospiral, equatorial periphery lobulate; axial periphery broadly rounded; chambers subspherical, 4 to 5, increasing slowly in size, except for the final one, which suddenly becomes more embracing; spiral sutures slightly curved, depressed; surface smooth for the most part, pitted surface of early chambers being gradually obliterated by the development of a thick cortex, granular in appearance (PI. 49, Fig. 1); umbilicus covered; aperture interiomarginal, extraumbilical-umbilical, a low arch at the base of the final chamber, no apertural rim or lip visible. Wall type:
K_S 1983 49-1.JPG
Non-spinose; Smooth [Aze 2011]
Character matrix
test outline:
Subcircular
chamber arrangement:
Trochospiral
edge view:
Inequally biconvex
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:
Broadly rounded
accessory apertures:
None
spiral sutures:
Flush
umb depth:
Shallow
wall texture:
Smooth
shell porosity:
Macroperforate: >2.5µm
umbilical or test sutures:
Weakly depressed
final-whorl chambers:
4-5
N.B. These characters are used for advanced search. N/A - not applicable
Biogeography and Palaeobiology
Geographic distributionTropical to warm subtropical. Low latitudes [Aze et al. 2011, based on Kennett & Srinivasan (1983)]
[SCOR WG138]
Isotope paleobiologyAze et al. 2011 ecogroup 3 - Open ocean thermocline; based on comparison with other species of the genus. Phylogenetic relationsPu. primalis is distinguished from Pu. praecursor by its aperture, which is restricted to the umbilical side and does not reach the periphery of the previous whorl. This species differs from Pu. spectabilis in lacking the acutely angled periphery characteristic of that species. Pu. primalis evolved from Neogloboquadrina acostaensis. Pu. praepulleniatina, described by Brönniman and Resig (1971), represents an intermediate form, which links N. acostaensis with Pu. primalis.
Geological Range: Last occurrence (top): in lower part of PL3 [Atl.] zone (28% up, 3.7Ma, in Zanclean stage). Data source: Wade et al. (2011), additional event; position within zone determined by linear interpolation from data in table 1 of Wade et al. (2011). First occurrence (base): in upper part of M13b subzone (73% up, 6.8Ma, in Messinian stage). Data source: Wade et al. (2011), additional event; position within zone determined by linear interpolation from data in table 1 of Wade 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
Histogram - Neptune occurrence data from DSDP and ODP proceedings. Pale shading <50 samples in time bin. Interpret with caution & read these notes
Primary source for this page: Kennett & Srinivasan 1983, p.200
References:
Aze, T., et al. (2011). A phylogeny of Cenozoic macroperforate planktonic foraminifera from fossil data. Biological Reviews. 86: 900-927. gs
Banner, F. T. & Blow, W. H. (1967). The origin, evolution and taxonomy of the foraminiferal genus Pulleniatina Cushman, 1927. Micropaleontology. 13(2): 133-162. 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
Brummer, G-J. A. & Kucera, M. (2022). Taxonomic review of living planktonic foraminifera. Journal of Micropalaeontology. 41: 29-74. gs
Kennett, J. P. & Srinivasan, M. S. (1983). Neogene Planktonic Foraminifera. Hutchinson Ross Publishing Co., Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. 1-265. gs
Norris, R. D. (1998). Planktonic foraminifer biostratigraphy: Eastern Equatorial Atlantic. Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results. 159: 445-479. gsO
Pearson, P. N., Fabbrini, A. & Wade, B. S. (2025). Systematic taxonomy of Pulleniatina. Journal of Foraminiferal Research. 55(3): 245-275. gs
Postuma, J. A. (1971). Manual of planktonic foraminifera. Elsevier for Shell Group, The Hague. 1-406. gs
Wade, B. S., Pearson, P. N., Berggren, W. A. & Pälike, H. (2011). Review and revision of Cenozoic tropical planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy and calibration to the geomagnetic polarity and astronomical time scale. Earth-Science Reviews. 104: 111-142. gs
Pulleniatina primalis compiled by the pforams@mikrotax project teamviewed: 20-4-2026
K_S 1983 49-3.JPG
Norris98 pl3-09.JPG
Postuma 1971 p385-4.JPG
Postuma 1971 p385-7.JPG
K_S 1983 49-3.JPG
Norris98 pl3-09.JPG
Postuma 1971 p385-4.JPG
Postuma 1971 p385-7.JPG_P46416_Holo.JPG)
holotype: P. primalis
K_S 1983 49-1.JPG
