Citation: Tenuitella clemenciae (Bermudez, 1967)Taxonomic rank: speciesBasionym: Turborotalia clemenciae Bermudez, 1967Synonyms: Globorotalia (Tenuitella) clemenciae (Bermudez, 1967)[e.g. Kennett & Srinivasan 1983]Taxonomic discussion: "Gr. minutissima, described from the Miocene of Trinidad by Bolli (1957a), closely resembles Gr. (Te.) clemenciae, and these two may be conspecific. If this is the case, Gr. minutissima has priority. Because we did not examine the type specimens of Globorotalia minutissima, we were unable to arrive at a definite conclusion." [Kennett & Srinivasan 1983]
Distinguishing features: Parent taxon (Tenuitella): Minute to small, low trochospiral test, with globular chambers. Monolamellar, microperforate wall with a smooth or finely pustulate surface. This taxon: Like T. munda but larger, 5 chambers in final whorl, and a more flattened lip
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
Morphology: Test small, low trochospiral , equatorial periphery lobulate, axial periphery rounded, chambers subglobular to ovate, five in the final whorl, increasing moderately in size; sutures on spiral side radial to slightly curved, depressed, on umbilical side radial , depressed; surface smooth, usually covered with small pustules or crystallites (Pl. 39, Figs. 1,3); umbilicus small, shallow; aperture a low arch , bordered by a lip; interiomarginal, umbilical-extraumbilical. [Kennett & Srinivasan 1983] Wall type:
K_S 1983 39-1.JPG
K_S 1983 39-3.JPG
Character matrix
test outline:
Lobate
chamber arrangement:
Trochospiral
edge view:
Equally biconvex
aperture:
Extraumbilical-peripheral
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:
Moderately depressed
umb depth:
Shallow
wall texture:
Finely pustulose
shell porosity:
Microperforate: <1µm
umbilical or test sutures:
Strongly 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. [Kennett & Srinivasan 1983] Phylogenetic relationsGr. (Te.) clemenciae closely resembles Gr. (Te.) munda but differs by its larger size and by having five chambers in the final whorl and a more flattened lip. [Kennett & Srinivasan 1983]
Geological Range: Last occurrence (top): within N17b zone (5.72-6.60Ma, top in Messinian stage). Data source: Kennett & Srinivasan 1983 First occurrence (base): within N5 zone (17.59-21.12Ma, base in Aquitanian stage). Data source: Kennett & Srinivasan 1983
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.164
References:
Bolli, H. M. (1957b). Planktonic foraminifera from the Oligocene-Miocene Cipero and Lengua formations of Trinidad, B.W.I. 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: 97-123. gs
Jenkins, D. G. (1971). New Zealand Cenozoic Planktonic Foraminifera. New Zealand Geological Survey, Paleontological Bulletin. 42: 1-278. gs
Kennett, J. P. & Srinivasan, M. S. (1983). Neogene Planktonic Foraminifera. Hutchinson Ross Publishing Co., Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. 1-265. gs
Tenuitella clemenciae compiled by the pforams@mikrotax project teamviewed: 12-6-2026