TAXONOMIC NOTES ON SELECTED LATE PALEOCENE TO EARLY EOCENE FORAMINIFERA FROM EASTERN BENIN BASIN, SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

The taxonomy and morphological features of selected Late Paleocene to Early Eocene foraminifera from southwestern Nigeria (eastern Dahomey basin) have been studied from boreholes and outcrops. Fourteen benthic and planktic species were identified while two were placed in open nomenclature. The described and illustrated features include costae, anastomosing costae, smooth, fine and coarse granular textures, apertures, pores, pustules and pseudospines. In the planktic foraminifera, normal perforate cancellate and pseudospinose wall texture was identified in Subbotina cf. triloculinoides, Acarinina pseudotopilensis, A. tribulosa, A. aff. Pentacamerata while Morozovella aequa has a strong pustulose (muricate) wall texture. The benthic foraminifera Lagena cf. L. shoponnai and Nonionoyae display fine granular and coarse surface topography respectively. The described and illustrated features will be useful in the taxonomy of the species.