Foraminifera From the 

Arctic Slope of Alaska

General Introduction and 

Part 1, Triassic Foraminifera

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 236-A
Foraminifera From the 

Arctic Slope of Alaska

By HELEN TAPPAN

General Introduction and Part 1, Triassic Foraminifera

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 236-A

Description and illustrations of the first 

Triassic foraminiferalfauna discovered 

in the Western Hemisphere

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1951
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Oscar L. Chapman, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

W. E. Wrather, Director

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office 

Washington 25, D. C. - Price 50 cents (paper cover)
OUTLINE OF THE REPOKT

General introduction

Part 1. Triassic Foraminifera

2. Jurassic Foraminifera

3. Cretaceous Foraminifera

4. Pleistocene Foraminifera

CONTENTS

Page

General introduction ____________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 1

Significance of the investigation_____________________________________________________________________________ 1

Source of material-_---_--_-___-__--___-_____________-_____-_________--______--_------------------_----_--- 1

Acknowledgments. _--_-__-_--____________________________________________-___--____-.___---_-_---__---_---_ 2

Biostratigraphy_ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 3

Examination and analysis of samples._____________________________-______-___-_--___--_------_----_-_-------- 4

Previous work______________________________________________________________________________________________ 5

Summary __ __________________________________________________________________________________ _____________ 5

Part 1. Triassic Foraminifera. -----________________-_______________________________-___--_-----_-------_----_--- 5

Abstract __________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5

Introduction ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 5

Previous work on Triassic Foraminifera. _____________________________________________--__-_-___-_---_------__ 6

Character of the Alaskan Triassic microfauna. _________________________-________-__--_--________--_----------- 7

Systematic descriptions.____________________________________________________________________________________ 8

Ammodiscidae- __________________________________________________________________________________________ 8

Lituolidae _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 8

Verneuilinidae__ _ _____-___-_______________________________________________-_____--_----__----_--_^----_- 9

Trochamminidae ________________________________________________________________________________________ 9

Lagenidae.---_-_________________-______-________________________________--____--_-----__---_------__-- 10

Polymorphinidae-________________________________________________-___-_______----___--___----_------_-_ 14

Buliminidae_ _-___-________-__________________________________-_____-____--_--__---_---_-----_---_----_- 16

Spirillinidae.___________________________________________________________________________________________ 16

Rotaliidae-_ _-__-_--_--_-_________________--_____-_____-___________-__--___-_-_---_-_--__--_---___----_ 16

References.-_________________________________ _ __ ___ ___ _ _____ __________________________________ 17

Index________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 19

ILLUSTRATIONS

Page 

Plate 1. Lituolidae, Trochamminidae-------------------------------------------------------------------- Following Index

2. Ammodiscidae, Lituolidae, Verneuilinidae, Lagenidae______________________________________________

3. Lagenidae.___________________________________________________________________________________ " "

4. Lagenidae, Polymorphinidae______-________________________________-____-_____--__-----_------ " "

5. Polymorphinidae, Buliminidae, Spirillinidae, Rotaliidae--_________-_____-__-__--_---___-----_-----_ " "

Figure 1. Outline map showing location of Naval Petroleum Reserve no. 4, and the physiographic provinces of the Arctic slope

of northern Alaska-____________________________________________-______-___--____---_---__----------- 2

2. Index map of the coastal region of northern Alaska- ________________-____-______-_-_-------------_-------- 6

FORAMINIFERA FROM THE ARCTIC SLOPE OF ALASKA

By HELEN TAPPAN*

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE INVESTIGATION

During the field exploration and drilling in Naval 

Petroleum Reserve no. 4 and adjacent areas of the 

Arctic slope of Alaska (fig. 1), Foraminifera have been 

found in strata ranging in age from Triassic to Pleistocene. The writer began the study of these Foraminifera 

in January of 1947, under the naval oil program of the 

U. S. Geological Survey. The foraminiferal faunas are 

of considerable interest, for they are not only of local 

practical stratigraphic value in the northern Alaskan 

region, but also include the most varied and best-preserved Triassic foraminiferal fauna yet described, the 

first to be recorded from the Western Hemisphere, the 

only Lower Jurassic Foraminifera found on the'North 

American continent, an extensive Cretaceous fauna including both Lower and Upper Cretaceous forms from 

an environment unlike that of most of the previously 

described American Cretaceous faunas, and a Pleistocene fauna that is similar in many respects to the fauna 

now living in the Arctic seas.

SOURCE OF MATERIAL

The work of the writer has been limited to the laboratory study of the Foraminifera. Core samples and well 

cuttings were supplied by the U. S. Geological Survey 

from the wells and core tests drilled during the time 

covered by this investigation. In addition, samples 

were obtained by seismograph parties at many of the 

shot-hole locations. The field samples were collected 

by many Survey geologists during geologic mapping 

and measuring of stratigraphic sections in the various 

parts of the Reserve over a period of about 5 years. 

Field data on the samples, both geographic and geologic, 

were supplied by these geologists.

The stratigraphic and paleontologic work in northern 

Alaska has been complicated by many conditions not 

usually encountered in exploration; a few of these are 

mentioned below.

*Mrs. Alfred R. Loeblich, Jr.

Ad-verse climate.—Because of the extreme cold of the 

winters of northern Alaska, the field season is short, 

most of the field geology having been carried out during 

approximately 3 months of each year.

Remote location.—Because of the remoteness of the 

area and the consequent difficulties in obtaining supplies 

and in transporting material obtained, field plans had 

to be made long in advance, and only minor changes 

in these plans could be made once the field season was 

under way.

Difficult terrain.—The Coastal Plain province is an 

area of tundra, swamps, and lakes, and the only exposures are in a few low stream banks. There are 

better exposures farther inland, but they are also increasingly more difficult of access nearer the Brooks 

Range, and the rugged terrain adds to the hazards of 

field work.

Lack of geologic data.—The field studies in northern 

Alaska were largely exploratory, as virtually no details 

of the stratigraphy or of structural features were 

known. It was not even certain which geologic periods 

were represented in the area under investigation.

Intertonguing sediments.—A large part of the sediments represents intertonguing marine and nonmarine 

facies. This intertonguing complicates subsurface 

correlations, especially where surface exposures are 

lacking.

Restricted fauna.—The nonmarine facies contains 

only a few plants and the marine strata are only 

sparsely fossiliferous, some of the beds yielding no 

diagnostic megafossils. The stratigraphic section for 

each local area had first to be compiled, and the zone 

fossils noted where present, without regard to detailed 

long-range correlations. Only after this had been 

nearly completed was it possible to see where these zones 

fit into the generalized geologic sections.

Often, while the paleontologists were attempting to 

obtain stratigraphic information concerning the outcrop samples from the field geologists, in order that the
FORAMINIFERA FROM THE ARCTIC SLOPE OF ALASKA

172° 164° 156° 148° 140°

70°

66e

62°

58°

Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4

164° 156° 148°

FIGDBE 1.—Outline map showing location of Naval Petroleum Reserve no. 4, and the physiographic provinces of the

Arctic slope of northern Alaska.

specific geologic ranges of the fossils could be determined, the field geologists simultaneously were requesting from the paleontologists data on the relative ages of 

the samples.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This report has been made possible, only by the active 

cooperation of many other geologists. The studies of

the Foraminifera have been aided and encouraged in 

many ways throughout the past 3 to 4 years, by George 

L. Gates, former geologist in charge, Navy Oil Unit, 

under whose direction the work was begun, Kalph L. 

Miller, present geologist in charge, and George Gryc, 

Thomas G. Payne, and Allan N. Kover, geologists, Navy 

Oil Unit, U. S. Geological Survey. For the past year 

Harlan R. Bergquist has been with the Fairbanks Lab-
INTRODUCTION

oratory as micropaleontologist, and many of the problems concerning the Foraminifera have been discussed 

with him.

As exploration in northern Alaska is still under way, 

it was necessary for the writer to set an arbitrary time 

limit for material to be included in this study. All outcrop material and well samples used in this study were 

obtained prior to 1950. The microfossil samples used 

herein were collected and stratigraphic sections measured during the geologic mapping from 1945 through 

1949 by William L. Barksdale, Eobert M. Chapman, 

Robert L. Detterman, William A. Fischer, George 

Gryc, Charles E. Kirschner, Ernest H. Lathram, William W. Patton, Richard G. Ray, Edward G. Sable, 

Karl Stefansson, Irvin L. Tailleur, Raymond M. 

Thompson, Robert F. Thurrell, Jr., Max L. Troyer, Edward J. Webber, Charles L. Whittington, and James H. 

Zumberge.

In addition to the microfossil samples picked in 

Washington by the writer and Alfred R. Loeblich, Jr., 

many microfossil samples have been picked in the Fairbanks Laboratory during the past 2 years by Tatiana 

Aschurkoff, Clyde Foster, William N. Lockwood, Octavia T. Pratt, Dorothy J. West, and Lucy Wiancko, 

under the direction of William N. Lockwood and Robert 

M. Chapman, former geologists in charge, and Thomas 

G. Roberts, present geologist in charge of the Fairbanks 

office, Navy Oil Unit, U. S. Geological Survey.

Acknowledgment is also made of the continued assistance of Alfred R. Loeblich, Jr., in the various phases 

of this study, from the washing and picking of samples 

through the preparation of the descriptions and illustrations for the present paper.

BIOSTRATiaRAPHY

In the northern Alaskan area, several factors modify 

the value of the microfossils for correlation, and any 

discussion of the Foraminifera should keep these limitations well in mind.

Sparsity of specimens.—As the total number of 

Foraminifera found in the northern Alaskan strata is 

well over 300 species, it might be assumed that microfossils are rather abundant. This is far from true. 

Unfortunately, many of the species are extremely rare, 

some being represented by a single specimen or two, 

even after the examination of many thousands of field 

samples and many more thousands of well samples 

during the past 3 to 4 years. About one-half to onethird of the samples are barren of microfossils, and 

many of the fossiliferous samples yield at most 5 to 10 

specimens.

This sparsity of individuals is undoubtedly due to 

an adverse local environment, perhaps locally brackish

915435—51———2

water, which might be expected in the deposition of the 

intertonguing marine and continental facies, and 

which is further suggested by the intercalated coal beds. 

Quite probably also, the waters may have been too 

muddy, as indicated by the poorly sorted sediments, 

and deposition too rapid, as shown by the great thicknesses of similar sediments, to permit the development 

of an abundant and diversified foraminiferal fauna. 

The consolidation of the sediments may be another 

factor affecting the recovery of fossils from the older 

Mesozoic sediments, as microfossils may be present but 

their separation impossible by the commonly used 

washing procedure.

Generalized character of the fauna.—Because of the 

adverse environment, only the simpler types of Foraminifera occur, which could best adapt themselves to 

the unfavorable conditions. Because of this adaptability (a high ecological valence), not only could they 

exist in the relatively poor environments of the time, 

but they could also become geologically long-lived 

forms. Very similar species of some of these genera of 

Foraminifera actually do occur in beds deposited under 

comparable adverse conditions throughout the Mesozoic 

and Cenozoic.

Of approximately 85 genera represented in northern 

Alaskan sediments, not over half a dozen are restricted 

to one geologic period, most of them range throughout 

the post-Paleozoic, and a few occur as early as the 

Silurian. The most abundant species are invariably 

the long-ranging simple forms, and the geologically 

more restricted types may be represented in the collections by a single species and some by a single specimen. 

Furthermore, these restricted genera are with one or 

two exceptions confined to the Pleistocene sediments 

in Alaska. None of the so-called index genera for the 

Cretaceous are present and even genera of supposedly 

world-wide distribution, such as Grlobigerina and 

CttimbeUna, occur sporadically in one or two zones of 

the Alaskan Cretaceous. The great majority of specimens are arenaceous, and represent such long-lived 

genera as Haplophragrrwides, Trochammina, Gaudryina, etc. The genera themselves are thus of comparatively slight value in age determination, and even 

the species are of restricted use, for in large part they 

include only the most simple and unornamented forms, 

which are difficult to distinguish. In brackish-water 

and near-shore deposits, such as are found in Alaska, 

the foraminiferal assemblage may be similar throughout a great thickness of sediments, even though a number of restricted f aunal zones are evident in an off-shore 

facies representing the same time interval. Thus, very 

similar species of some genera occur in most of the 

strata.
FORAMINIFERA FROM THE ARCTIC SLOPEi OF ALASKA

Poor preservation of the microfossils.—Most of the 

species of Foraminifera are arenaceous forms, the tests 

being composed of sandy material agglutinated to a 

chitinous base. They are easily distorted by pressure, 

even that due to consolidation of the shales, and the 

great distortion of these agglutinated specimens makes 

specific identification very difficult.

In some of the strata the rarer calcareous forms are 

represented by pyritic replacements only. As most of 

these are internal casts, any surface characters have 

been destroyed, making specific determination and in 

some specimens even the generic identity uncertain.

Fades character of the fawna.—The calcareous Foraminifera, and many of the arenaceous species as well, 

are usually found in an off-shore facies. In an unfavorable environment, such as was present in Alaska 

at the time of deposition, the faunas shift with the 

changing sedimentary environment. A faunal break 

may thus be due locally to a change of facies, and the 

same species may occur higher or lower in the section 

in another locality where the facies differs. A zone 

fossil of one locality may therefore be absent from the 

same stratigraphic level at another location. Some of 

the faunas are known only from the subsurface section; 

for example, that of the Lower Jurassic, and others 

were first found in the subsurface and later recognized 

in an isolated and comparatively distant outcrop, as 

was the Upper Triassic fauna. The subsurface Cretaceous rocks are much more fossiliferous than the exposed beds; many outcrops are either of continental or 

near-shore origin, and therefore not as fossiliferous as 

the down-dip deposits encountered in the wells.

Great distance from equivalent faunas.—It is difficult 

to compare the species, or to make correlations, when 

no material of equivalent age is known from nearby 

areas. No Triassic Foraminifera have been described 

from this hemisphere; the best Triassic fauna described 

is one from Germany that has little in common with 

that of Alaska. Foraminifera have been found in the 

Middle and Upper Jurassic beds of the western interior 

of the United States and Canada, but the only abundant 

and well-preserved Jurassic fauna in Alaska is from 

the Lower Jurassic strata. No Lower Jurassic species 

have been described from this continent.

The Cretaceous section includes beds ranging in age 

from Neocomian through Senonian, the mid-Cretaceous 

Albian being the most fossiliferous portion of the section. The Alaskan Cretaceous is thus equivalent in 

age to a portion of the very fossiliferous Cretaceous 

sediments of the Gulf coast, but the faunas have little 

in common other than age. The Gulf coast fauna is 

extremely varied, with many pelagic forms and a 

great abundance of calcareous and specialized types,

but the Cretaceous of Alaska contains a dominantly 

arenaceous fauna and has almost no specialized forms. 

The great difference in fauna is undoubtedly due to 

different environmental conditions, the Gulf coast 

region having an abundance of many types of megafossils and a considerable variety of sediments, from 

clean and cross-bedded sands to clays and marly limestones. The Alaskan section contains sands and clays, 

but no limestones, and the clastic sediments are neither 

clean nor well-sorted, thus suggesting rapid sedimentation and muddy waters. These features may explain 

the faunal differences, as only very tolerant species 

could live in such an adverse environment. Even the 

macrofauna is lacking in variety, consisting largely of 

Inoceramus and a few ammonites.

The Cretaceous of Alaska is very similar lithologically and f aunally to that of Canada, but is seemingly 

much more fossiliferous. More than 200 species of 

Foraminifera have been recovered from the Cretaceous 

of Alaska, whereas only about 50 species have been described from Canada.

The Pleistocene fauna is very similar to that described from Amchitka Island in the Aleutians, but the 

latter is of off-shore origin, containing an abundance of 

pelagic species. The northern Alaska assemblage, although dominantly calcareous, consists largely of genera 

which are notably tolerant of brackish water, and no 

pelagic forms are present. Many of the species are 

living off the present Arctic coast.

EXAMINATION AND ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES

In the early period of the Alaskan forammiferal 

studies, the writer herself examined the washed residues, picking out the microfossils for study. After 

about a year, the quantity of material being received 

greatly increased, and from that time, the samples were 

both washed and picked in the Fairbanks Laboratory 

of the U. S. Geological Survey, and the faunal slides 

of microfossils supplied for study. When unusual 

faunas were found, or stratigraphic contacts questioned, 

additional unwashed material was requested, and this 

was washed and picked by the writer.

No specific names were used in the routine examination work; the various Foraminifera were identified 

generically and species were designated by letters in the 

charts and reports. This avoided the implication of correlations based on supposed affinities with previously described species. This method was also more convenient, 

as most species were new. After the local stratigraphic 

sequence had been established and correlation became 

feasible, specific identifications were made and the description and illustration of the entire fauna was begun. 

All figured types and numerous additional paratypes
TRIASSIC FORAMENTFERA

and hypotypes are deposited in the U. S. National Museum. The Foraminifera are illustrated by shaded 

camera lucida drawings prepared by the writer.

PBEVIOtTS WORK

As the areal geology and stratigraphy are not covered 

in this report, but are being described separately by 

other members of the U. S. Geological Survey, only the 

previous work on the Foraminifera is discussed here.

Very little on Alaskan Foraminifera has been published. Some have been described from Jurassic and 

Cretaceous strata of Canada by Cushman (1927, 1928, 

and 1943), Nauss (1947), and Wickenden (1932a, b, 

1933, and 1949), and there are many papers on the 

equivalent faunas from the United States. Most of 

the latter are from a different paleo-geographic province and have little in common with the Alaskan 

faunas.

Pleistocene faunas have been described by Cushman 

(1941) from a submarine beach near Nome, Alaska, and 

by Cushman and Todd (1947) from Amchitka Island, 

Aleutians. Eecent species have been described by Cushman (1920, 1933, and 1948) from the Alaskan coast, 

and many of these species also occur in the Pleistocene 

deposits.

A general summary of the micropaleontology of northern Alaska, by the writer has been included in an Oil

and Gas Investigations Map (Payne and others in preparation) . A few index species were illustrated on this 

map, and described in a brief article (Tappan, 1951).

SUMMARY

Although the microfauna is restricted in any one 

place or bed, the large quantity of material examined 

from northern Alaska has yielded approximately 350 

species of Foraminifera. About 8 percent of these are 

from the Triassic, 12 percent from the Jurassic, 60 

percent from the Cretaceous, and the remaining 20 percent Pleistocene.

Because of the lack of described equivalent foraminiferal faunas, correlations based on the Foraminifera 

alone have not been possible for all the strata studied in 

Alaska. In large part, age determinations are based 

on megafossils and the index Foraminifera then determined for the beds. They have then proved useful in 

places where macrofossils were not found.

Study of the foraminiferal fauna is of scientific value 

because it adds greatly to the knowledge of early Mesozoic forms, and because the faunas are largely of brackish or deltaic origin and belong to an ecologic f acies that 

has been largely ignored. This relative neglect is 

probably due to the comparative scarcity of species and 

specimens in deposits of this type, and the absence of 

diagnostic genera among the few that are present.

PART 1. TRIASSIC FORAMINIFERA

ABSTRACT

Twenty-six new species of Foraminifera were obtained from 

the Upper Triassic of northern Alaska. This is the first record 

of Triassic Foraminifera in the western hemisphere. Eighteen 

genera are represented, one of them new, and there are nine 

families. Twelve species belong to the family Lagenidae, five 

to the Polymorphinidae, two each to the Trochamminidae and 

Lituolidae, and one each to the Ammodiscidae, Verneuilinidae, 

Buliminidae, Spirillinidae, and Rotaliidae. It is thus a more 

varied fauna than any previously described from the Triassic. 

The specimens are better preserved than Triassic Foraminifera 

known heretofore.

INTRODUCTION

The Upper Triassic rocks of Alaska contain fossiliferous black shales (including oil shale), bituminous 

limestones, chert, and sandstone. The Shublik formation was described by E. D. Leffingwell (1919) from the 

Canning River region, the type locality being at Shublik Island on the Canning River, at the southwest corner of the Shublik Mountains. Leffingwell noted that 

better outcrops occur in the region of the Sadlerochit 

River, however, where the structure is less complicated. 

The limestones contain abundant Pseudomonotis, Tere- 

"bratula and Rhynchonella.

The Triassic Foraminifera here described were first 

observed in the samples from Simpson Test Well no. 1 

(fig. 2), in Naval Petroleum Reserve No. 4, northern 

Alaska. This test well was drilled in 1948 at Cape 

Simpson and a Triassic macrofauna was identified by 

R. W. Imlay of the U. S. Geological Survey, in cores 

from the lower part of the well. A distinctive microfauna, previously unknown either in surface or subsurface material, was associated with the macrofossils. 

In the subsurface the Shublik formation consists of 245 

feet of medium gray, well indurated silt shale, limy 

siltstone and silty limestone, containing intra-formational siltstone pebbles in the upper part. Pelecypods 

are abundant, especially Hdlobia and Monotis, and some 

cross-bedding was found in the lower beds.

During the summer of 1948, Edward G. Sable collected samples from exposures in the Sadlerochit River 

area that were found to contain the same Triassic microfauna previously observed in the subsurface cores. The 

outcrop material was not as fossiliferous, however. 

Where it crops out in the Sadlerochit River region, the 

basal part of the Shublik formation consists of 25 to 50 

feet of nonfossiliferous siltstone, and sandstone contain-
6 FORAMINIFERA FROM THE ARCTIC SLOPE OF ALASKA

FIGURE 2.—Index map of the coastal region of northern Alaska, showing location of Simpson Test Well no. 1, and areas of Triassic outcrops

containing Foraminifera.

ing numerous black pebbles. Above this is 175 to 250 

feet of interbedded black calcareous shale and black 

silty limestone. In general, megafossils occur only in 

the limestones. They consist of an abundance of pelecypods, especially Halobia and Monotis, and many small 

brachiopods, chiefly terebratulids and rhynchonellids.

A few Triassic samples were collected in the Canning 

River area in 1947 by George Gryc, but only a single 

specimen of Foraminifera (a Trochammina) was 

found.

Of the 26 species here described from the Triassic 

Shublik formation, 20 were found in the samples from 

Simpson Test Well no. 1, and 11 were found in the 

outcrop samples from the Sadlerochit River. Only nine 

species are common to the two localities and one species 

was found only in the Canning River area.

PREVIOUS WORK ON TRIASSIC FORAMINIFERA

Foraminifera have been described from the Middle 

Triassic of Germany and the Alpine area, and from 

the Upper Triassic (Carnian, Norian and Rhaetian) 

'of the Alpine area, England (Rhaetian), and New 

Zealand. The faunas are meager; they total only about 

20 genera, most of them simple arenaceous forms or

simple Lagenidae. The Alaskan fauna includes 18 

genera, belonging to 9 families, and is thus the most 

varied single Triassic fauna yet recorded. Also, the 

specimens are better preserved than those of previously 

described Triassic faunas that include many Foraminifera known only in thin sections and not specifically 

identifiable.

In 1860 Jones and Parker described and referred to 

the Triassic a fauna from Chellaston, England. The 

fauna consisted of about 30 species, representing 6 

genera. Later (Chapman, 1895, p. 310), these beds 

were determined to be Jurassic (Lias) in age and not 

Triassic.

The first true Triassic Foraminifera described were 

those from the Alpine area (Schwager, 1864). He 

found seven species, belonging to the genera Dentalina, 

Marginulina, Cristellaria, Tewtularia, and Globulin a. 

All but the last two are members of the Lagenidae.

Reuss (1868) later described nine species, belonging 

to eight genera, from the Alpine Triassic. He found 

Gflandulina (probably Pseudoglandulina), Cristellaria, 

Maryinulina, Globigerina, Polymorphina, Textilaria, 

Comuspira, and Biloculina.
TRIASSIC FORAMINIFERA

In 1869 Giimbel described another Alpine Triassic 

fauna, which contained ostracode and holothurian remains, and also an apparently well-preserved fauna of 

13 Foraminifera. One species of Foraminifera was 

doubtfully referred to a species of Jones and Parker, 

and the remaining 12 were described as new species. 

They represented 10 genera: Cornuspira, Triloculina, 

Dentdlina (3 species), Pseudoglandulina, Cristellaria, 

Nodosaria, Lingulina, Guttulina, Polymorphina, and 

Rotalia.

Bornemann (1885) described four species, belonging 

to as many genera, from thin sections of the German 

Muschelkalk (Middle Triassic). All were referred to 

previously described species, which had been recorded 

from Permian to Kecent by Brady. They represented 

Ammodiscus, Trochammina, Nvdosaria, and Dentalina. 

Although unquestionably they are not identical with 

the living species to which they were referred, it is not 

possible to identify the species more accurately, as they 

are represented only by thin sections.

Mariani (1893) recorded 17 species from the Upper 

Triassic of Italy, belonging to 13 genera: Cornuspira, 

Textularia, Cristellaria, Nodosaria, Marginulina, Lagena, Polymorphina, Bolivina, Rotalia, Tnmoatulina, 

Pulvinulina, Discorbina and Anomalina. Only five of 

the species were described as new; the remainder were 

. referred to already described species, or merely identified generically. As all are known only from thin sections, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to 

recognize any of the species.

In 1895, Chapman described 26 species of Foraminifera from the B-haetic of Somerset, England. Nine of 

these were described as new species. Most of the species 

were arenaceous, unlike the earlier described Triassic 

faunas dominated by the Lagenidae. Nine genera were 

represented: Reophax, Haplophragmiwn (probably 

Ammobaculites), Ammodiscus, Nodosinella, StacTieia, 

Nodosaria, Marginulina, BuUmina (probably a Valvulina, as it was arenaceous), and Truncatulina (probably 

an Epistomina). Part of the fauna was washed from 

clays, but only one of the calcareous forms was found 

in the washed residues (the Truncatidind). The other 

forms were found in thin sections of the limestones. 

The fauna was compared to the upper Paleozoic faunas, 

as well as to Jurassic faunas.

Chapman (1909) described a small fauna, including 

seven species of Foraminifera and three ostracods, from 

the Wiaiiamatta shales of New South Wales. He considered these deposits brackish or estuarine, and the 

fauna contained an intermingling of Upper Triassic 

and Lower Jurassic types. Most of the specimens were 

only internal casts, but the shells of a few specimens 

were preserved. Six genera were represented: Nubecu915435—51———3

laria, Haplophragrmuan, Endothyra, Discorbina, Truncatulina and Pulvinulina. Only three species were 

described as new, the remainder were referred to species 

described from beds as old as Carboniferous and as 

young as Tertiary and Recent.

Vadasz (1911) described a large fauna from the 

Bakony Mountains in Hungary. However, his collection was accidentally mixed with Tertiary material, 

and a large percentage of the Foraminifera he described as from the Triassic are in reality Tertiary 

species. Although some of the species are quite obviously from the younger strata, it is impossible to be 

certain which of the species are actually from the Triassic. Thus this fauna must be discounted in determining 

the character of Triassic faunas, until additional work 

is done to isolate the Triassic assemblage.

In 1925, Kirchner recorded 11 species from the 

Muschelkalk, including 3 of the species previously found 

there by Bornemann. One species was described as new, 

but none were figured. Eight genera were represented: 

Ammodiscus, Trochammina, Cornuspira, Nubecularia, 

Spiroloculina, Nodosaria, Dentalina and Marginulina.

In 1945, Wirz again recorded a small fauna from the 

Alpine Triassic. As his specimens were found only in 

thin sections, none were identified specifically. The 

genera represented included Ammodiscus, Glomospira, 

Ammobaculites and Dentalina.

The only other record of a Triassic foraminiferal 

fauna is rather questionable. Chapman (1900) described a fauna from the Malverns, which he considered to be of Cambrian age, containing the calcareous 

genera Lagena, Nodosaria, Dentalina, Cristellaria, 

Spirillina and Marginulina. This was shown by Wood 

(1947) to have been derived from a loose fragment of 

Rhaetic or lower Liassic limestone, of glacial origin. 

All species were found only in thin sections, and thus 

are not diagnostic. In a discussion of Wood's paper, 

Barnard (Wood, 1947, p. 460) stated that he had seen 

only "a few casts of Nodosaria and Lingulina in the 

Rhaetic," but the abundance of Spirillina in the Malverns material was more like the Lias that he had 

studied. Thus this fauna, while certainly not Cambrian, may be Triassic, but is probably Jurassic.

CHARACTER OF THE ALASKAN TRIASSIC 

MICROFAUNA

Many of the Triassic outcrop samples from northern 

Alaska contain no microfossils. Locally this may be 

due to the condition of the sediments, as in the foothills of the Brooks range where the shales are too 

hard to be broken down for microfossils. The fauna 

which is here described was obtained only after rather 

rough treatment and prolonged boiling of the samples 

in addition to the usual washing process.
8 FORAMINTFERA FROM THE ARCTIC SLOPE! OF ALASKA

Some of the specimens of Foraminifera recovered 

from the Triassic shales are not well preserved. Many 

specimens of the calcareous species are filled with pyrite, 

and some specimens consist only of pyritic internal 

casts. Many of the lagenid species are represented 

both by the shells and the internal casts, but the species 

of the Polymorphinidae are known only from the internal casts. The arenaceous Foraminifera are generally better preserved. Although preservation is not 

as good as could be desired, the Alaskan specimens are 

better preserved than any Triassic Foraminifera previously described.

The Alaskan Triassic is more varied, having at least 

as many species as any other single Triassic fauna described, and nearly as many genera as previously 

recorded from all other Triassic areas. About 20 

genera have been recorded from the Triassic. The 

present fauna includes 26 new species, belonging to 18 

genera, of which 1 is new, and 9 families. Nearly one 

half of the species (12) belong to the family Lagenidae, 

5 to the Polymorphinidae, 2 each to the Trochamminidae and Lituolidae, and 1 each to the Ammodiscidae, Verneuilinidae, Buliminidae, Spirillinidae, and 

Rotaliidae.

In general character the Alaskan fauna resembles 

already known Triassic faunas; it is strongly dominated 

by the Lagenidae, and includes simple arenaceous genera and early types of the Buliminidae, Polymorphinidae and Rotaliidae. There is nothing especially distinctive in the Triassic assemblage. It is very similar 

to the Lower Jurassic fauna, which however, includes 

many more species of the various genera. All the 

genera of Foraminifera present in the Triassic range 

throughout the post Paleozoic, with the possible exception of the genus Sagoplecta, here described as new. 

Additional study may even show that this genus ranges 

into later periods.

SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTIONS

Family AMMODISCIDAE

Subfamily TOLYPAMMININAE

Genus TOLYFAMMINA Rhumbler, 1895

Tolypammina glareosa Tappan, n. sp.

Plate 2, figures 1, 2

Test attached, consisting of a long, undivided, sinuate 

tube of constant width throughout its length; wall 

coarsely arenaceous, surface rough; aperture formed by 

the open ends of the tube. Length of holotype 1.35 mm., 

greatest breadth of tube 0.18 mm. Length of paratype 0.62 mm.

Remarks: Tolypammina glareosa, n. sp. differs from 

Hyperammina vagans Brady in being more coarsely

arenaceous, in having tubes of slightly smaller diameter 

and in lacking the constrictions in the wall.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106322) 

andparatype (U.S.N.M. 106323) from the Upper Triassic .Shublik formation, from a core at 6331 feet, in Simpson Test Well no. 1, west of Cape Simpson, northern 

Alaska.

Family LITUOLIDAE 

Subfamily HAPLOPHRAGMIINAE 

Genus TROCHAMMINOIDES Cushman, 1910 

Trochamminoides vertens Tappan, n. sp. 

Plate 2, figures 3,4

Test free, tiny, planispiral, not involute, consisting of 

about two and one-half whorls, periphery broadly 

rounded; chambers numerous, about nine in the last 

whorl, inflated and subglobular; sutures distinct, 

straight, constricted; wall finely arenaceous, surface 

smoothly finished; aperture simple, at the end of the 

last formed chamber. Greatest diameter of holotype 

0.23 mm., least diameter 0.21 mm., greatest thickness 

0.05 mm.

Remarks: Trochamminoides vertens, n. sp. is similar 

to T. Goronus Loeblich and Tappan, from the Lower 

Cretaceous Walnut clay, in size and general appearance, but differs in having more globular and inflated 

chambers, and in having only 9 chambers to a whorl 

instead of 12 to 14. T. vertens differs from T. velascoensis Cushman in having a more rounded periphery 

and less elongate chambers.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106324) 

and paratype (U.S.N.M. 106325) from cuttings at 6335 

to 6340 feet and paratype (U.S.N.M. 106326) from 

cuttings at 6365 to 6370 feet, all from the Upper Triassic Shublik formation, in Simpson Test Well no. 1, 

west of Cape Simpson, northern Alaska.

Genus AMMOBAGULITES Cushman, 1910 

Ammobaculites sthenarus Tappan, n. sp. 

Plate 1, figures 1-3

Test free, large, robust, early portion planispiral, 

and involute, with the last chamber showing a tendency 

to uncoil, bi-umbilicate, periphery broadly rounded; 

chambers somewhat inflated, five to six in the last 

whorl, increasing rapidly in size as added; sutures distinct, constricted, straight; wall arenaceous, of medium sized grains with considerable cement, surface 

smoothly finished; aperture small and rounded, terminal on the final chamber. Length of holotype 1.09 mm., 

greatest diameter of coil 0.70 mm., greatest thickness 

0.44 mm.

Remarks: This species is closest to Ammcibaculites 

goodlandensis Cushman and Alexander from the Lower
•TRIASSIC FORAMINIFERA 9

Cretaceous of Texas, as both species have a large, biumbilicate planispiral portion and much reduced rectilinear portion. The present species differs in having 

fewer chambers in the last whorl and in having regular 

and smoothly rounded rather than sharply angular 

chambers.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106327) 

from cuttings at 6355 to 6360 feet, and figured paratype (U.S.N.M. 106328) from cuttings at 6435 to 6440 

feet, both from the Upper Triassic Shublik formation, 

in Simpson Test Well no. 1, west of Cape Simpson, 

northern Alaska.

Family VERNEUIIINIDAE

Genus GAUDRYINA d'Orbigny, 1839

Gaudryina adoxa Tappan, n. sp.

Plate 2, figures 5-7

Test free, tiny, triserial at the base, becoming biserial 

in the later portion; chambers numerous, increasing 

gradually in size as added; sutures distinct, straight, 

slightly depressed; wall finely arenaceous with considerable cement, surface smoothly finished; aperture an arch 

at the base of the final chamber. Length of holotype 

0.26 mm., greatest breadth 0.10 mm. Length of figured 

paratype 0.21 mm., other specimens range from 0.13 to 

0.31 mm. in length.

Remarks: This species is closest to Gaudryina bearpawensis Wickenden in general proportions and 

rounded chambers, but it is smaller and has a less well 

developed biserial portion. It differs from Gaudryina 

hectori Nauss and G. canadensis Cushman in its much 

smaller size,'fewer biserial chambers, and lack of the 

occasional uniserial development of G. canadensis.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106329), 

figured paratype (U.S.N.M. 106330) and unfigured 

paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106331) from a core at 6347'8" to 

6348'8", and unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106332) 

from the core at 6346 to 6349 feet, all from the Upper 

Triassic Shublik formation, in Simpson Test Well no. 1, 

west of Cape Simpson, northern Alaska.

Family TROCHAMMINIDAE

Subfamily TROCHAMMININAE

Genus TROCHAMMINA Parker and Jones, 1859

Trochammina contornata Tappan, n. sp.

Plate 1, figures 4-6

Test large, free, coiled in a trochoid spiral, all chambers visible dorsally, only those of the last whorl visible 

fronj the ventral side, dorsal side convex, ventral side 

flattened, centrally umbilicate; chambers numerous, 

increasing very gradually in size as added, about 12 in 

the final whorl, 31^ whorls present in the holotype, 

chambers somewhat flattened, inflated slightly at the

inner margins both dorsally and ventrally, so that a 

somewhat raised area parallels the spiral suture dorsally 

and an elevated ring surrounds the ventral umbilicus; 

sutures slightly depressed, very slightly curved backward at the periphery on the dorsal side, straight and 

radiate ventrally; wall finely arenaceous with considerable cement; aperture an arched slit at the base of 

the apertural face of the final chamber. Greatest diameter of holotype 0.75 mm., least diameter 0.68 mm., 

greatest thickness 0.18 mm.

Remarks: This species differs from Trochammina 

labiosa Hoglund in being more than twice as large, in 

having 12 rather than eight chambers in the last whorl, 

in lacking the stellate umbilicus and in lacking the 

angular periphery of T. labiosa. The present species 

differs from T. ribstonensis Wickenden in being larger 

in size, in having 12 rather than 7 chambers in the final 

whorl, and in having less rounded chambers and a less 

lobulate periphery.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106333) 

from the Upper Triassic Shublik formation, in a faulted 

exposure north of Shublik Springs, about two miles 

northeast of the Canning River, at lat. 69°29'40" north, 

long. 146°08'40" west, in northeastern Alaska. Collected by George Gryc, 1947. Only one specimen was 

found.

Trochammina helicta Tappan, n. sp. 

Plate 1, figures 7-9

Test free, large, robust, trochoid, ventrally umbilicate, all chambers visible dorsally, only those of the last 

whorl visible ventrally, periphery subangular; chambers numerous, 10 to 11 in the final whorl, increasing 

gradually in length and rapidly in thickness as added, 

flattened dorsally, inflated ventrally, much inflated adjacent to the small but deep, rounded yentral umbilicus; 

sutures somewhat obscure, radiate ventrally, slightly 

curved dorsally; wall finely arenaceous, with considerable cement; aperture obscure. Greatest diameter of 

holotype 0.83 mm., least diameter 0.62 mm., greatest 

thickness 0.57 mm.

Remarks: This species has some of the features of 

the genus Conotrochammina Finlay, but the chambers 

reach farther into the umbilical area on the ventral 

side, while Conotrochammina consists of a spirally 

wound septate tube, with all whorls visible ventrally as 

well as dorsally. The genotype of Conotrochammina 

has an umbilicus occupying one-third the diameter of 

the test. Trochammina helicta^ n. sp. differs from T. 

globigeriniformis altiformis Cushman and Renz in having 10 chambers instead of only 4 in the final whorl, 

and is approximately ^ smaller.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106334) 

and unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106335) from the
10 FORAMTN1FERA FROM THE ARCTIC SLOPE OF ALASKA

interbedded black calcareous shales and black silty 

limestones, from a 148-foot zone, from 353 to 501 feet 

below the top of the Upper Triassic Shublik formation, in the banks of a southward-flowing tributary 

that enters the Sadlerochit River at approximately lat. 

69°34'30" north, long. 145°03' west, on the south slope 

of the Sadlerochit Mountains, in northeastern Alaska. 

Collected by Edward G. Sable, 1948.

Family LAGENIDAE

Genus ASTACOLUS Montfort, 1808

Astacolus connudatus Tappan, n. sp.

Plate 2, figures 8-19

Test free, large, robust, planispiral, and involute in 

the early portion, later part becoming involute and 

uncoiling, periphery subacute, with a narrow keel; 

chambers numerous, increasing gradually in size as 

added, 7 to 13 in the final whorl; sutures slightly thickened, gently curved; wall calcareous, hyalfne, surface 

smooth; aperture radiate, at the peripheral angle. 

Greatest diameter of holotype 0.78 mm., least diameter 

0.52 mm., greatest thickness 0.23 mm. Other specimens 

range from 0.26 to 0.86 mm. in diameter.

Remarks: Specimens of this species are invariably 

filled with pyrite, arfd some specimens consist only of the 

internal pyritic casts. Astacolus connudatus^ n. sp. is of 

approximately the same size as CristeUaria (Astacolus) 

dubia Franke, but has more of a tendency to uncoil, and 

possesses thickened sutures. The present species is 

smaller than Cristellaria (Robulind) polypJiragma 

Reuss, and is proportionally thicker through the umbonal region.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106336), 

figured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106337a-c) and unfigured 

paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106338) all from the interbedded 

black calcareous -shales and silty limestones, 150 feet 

below the top of the Upper Triassic Shublik formation; 

figured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106339a-c) and unfigured 

paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106340) from the upper 25 feet 

of the Shublik formation; unfigured paratypes 

(U.S.N.M. 106341) from a 27 foot zone, from 32 to 59 

feet below the top of the Shublik formation; unfigured 

paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106343) from a 148 foot zone, 

from 353 to 501 feet below the top of the Shublik formation; and unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106344) 

from a 50 foot zone, from 674 to 724 feet below the top 

of the Shublik formation, all from the banks of a southward-flowing tributary that enters the Sadlerochit 

River at approximately lat. 69°34'30" north, long. 

145°03' west, on the south slope of the Sadlerochit 

Mountains, in northeastern Alaska. Collected by Edward G. Sable, 1948.

Figured paratype (U.S.N.M. 106345) and unfigured 

paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106346) from a core at 6304 to

6314 feet, figured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106347a-c) and 

unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106348) from a core at 

6316 to 6334 feet, and unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 

106349) from cuttings at 6375 to 6380 feet, all from the 

Upper Triassic Shublik formation, in Simpson Test 

Well no. 1, west of Cape Simpson, northern Alaska.

Genus MARGINULINA d'Orbigny, 1826

Marginulina prisca Tappan, n. sp.

Plate 2, figures 20-23

Test free, robust, elongate, slightly arcuate; chambers numerous, as many as seven, increasing very gradually in size from the rounded base; sutures distinct, 

thickened, straight; wall calcareous, hyaline, surface 

smooth; aperture terminal, radiate. Length of holotype 

0.62 mm., greatest breadth 0.21 mm., other specimens 

range from 0.49 to 0.65 mm. in length.

Remarks: Mfirginulina prisca, n. sp. is similar in size 

and form to Marginulina dentalina. Haeusler, but has 

less oblique sutures and lacks the longitudinal costae 

of that species. The present species differs from M. 

dorsata Cushman in being approximately one-half as 

large, and in having less constricted sutures.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106350) 

and unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106351) from a core 

at 6304 to 6314 feet in the Upper Triassic Shublik formation, in Simpson Test Well no. 1, west of Cape Simpson, northern Alaska. Figured paratype (U.S.N.M. 

106352) and unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106353) 

from a 148 foot zone, from 353 to 501 feet below the top 

of the interbedded black calcareous shales and silty 

limestones of the Upper Triassic Shublik formation, 

in the banks of a southward-flowing tributary that 

enters the Sadlerochit River at approximately lat. 

69°34'30" north, long. 145°03' west, on the south slope 

of the Sadlerochit Mountains, in northeastern Alaska. 

Collected by Edward G. Sable, 1948.

Genus VAGINULINOPSIS Silvestri, 1904

Vaginulinopsis acrulus Tappan, n. sp.

Plate 3, figures 21-23

Test free, large, early portion close coiled, later portion uncoiling but slightly arcuate, periphery subacute; 

chambers numerous, low and broad, increasing gradually in size as added, about seven in the coil of the 

microspheric form, followed by seven to nine uncoiled 

chambers; sutures nearly straight, somewhat higher on 

the dorsal margin, obscure except when specimens are 

dampened; wall calcareous, hyaline, surface smqoth; 

aperture at the dorsal angle, apparently radiate, but 

the preservation is poor and radial markings obscure. 

Length of holotype 0.94 mm., breadth of coil 0.26 mm., 

breadth of final chamber 0.34 mm., greatest thickness
TRIASSIC POBAMINIFERA 11

0.26 mm. Other specimens range from 0.57 to 0.94 mm. 

in length.

Remarks: Vaginulinopsis acrulus, n. sp. is similar 

to Marginulina indica LeRoy in size, but has many 

more chambers, and has a more enrolled early portion. 

The present species differs from Vaginulinopsis pachynota ten Dam in lacking the thickened and elevated 

sutures of that species, in having less oblique and less 

depressed sutures.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106354) 

from cuttings at 6510 to 6515 feet, from the Upper Triassic Shublik formation, in Simpson Test-Well no. 1, 

west of Cape Simpson, northern Alaska. Figured 

paratype (U.S.N.M. 106355) and unfigured paratypes 

(U.S.N.M. 106356) from 150 feet below the top of the 

Upper Triassic Shublik formation, in the banks of a 

southward-flowing tributary that enters the Sadlerochit 

Kiyer at approximately lat. 69°34'30" north, long. 

145°03' west, on the south slope of the Sadlerochit 

Mountains, in northeastern Alaska. Collected by Edward G. Sable, 1948.

Genus NODOSARIA Lamarck, 1812

Nodosaria larina Tappan, n. sp.

Plate 3, figures 5-8

Test free, large, robust, elongate, consisting of a rectilinear series of subglobular chambers; usually only 

three to four chambers present, which are centrally 

inflated and show very little increase in diameter from 

the globular proloculus, final chamber somewhat produced at the apertural end to form a short neck; sutures 

distinct, straight, thickened, constricted; wall calcareous, hyaline, surface smooth; aperture rounded, at the 

end of the short neck. Length of holotype 0.49 mm., 

greatest breadth 0.21 mm. Other specimens range 

from 0.44 to 0.73 mm. in length.

Remarks: Nodosaria larina, n. sp. differs from N. 

beyrichi Neugeboren and N. incerta Neugeboren in being about one half as large, in having a less acuminate 

final chamber and less incised sutures. The present 

species is about one half as large as N. concinna Keuss, 

and has lower chambers and less incised sutures. It is 

about one third as large as N. pupa Karrer and has a 

less tapering test.

Types and occuwence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106360), 

figured paratype (U.S.N.M. 106361) and unfigured 

paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106362) all from a core at 6304 

to 6314 feet, and unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 

106363) from a core at 6316 to 6334 feet, from the 

Upper Triassic Shublik formation, in Simpson Test 

Well no. 1, west of Cape Simpson, northern Alaska. 

Figured paratype (U.S.N.M. 106364) and unfigured 

paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106365) from the upper 25 feet 

of the Shublik formation, and unfigured paratypes

(U. S. N. M. 106366) from 353 to 501 feet below the top 

of the Shublik formation, in the banks of a southwardflowing tributary that enters the Sadlerochit Kiver at 

approximately lat. 69°34'30" north, long. 145°03' west, 

on the south slope of the Sadlerochit Mountains, in 

northeastern Alaska. Collected by Edward G. Sable, 

1948.

Nodosaria Hratella Tappan, n. sp.

Plate 3, figures 17-20

Test free, tiny, elongate, slightly tapered, consisting 

of a rectilinear series of chambers; 7 to 8 chambers in 

well developed specimens, of greater breadth than 

height, increasing gradually in size from the rounded 

base; sutures straight, distinct, somewhat constricted; 

wall calcareous, hyaline, surface ornamented with about 

10 low ribs; aperture terminal, rounded. Length of 

holotype 0.26 mm., greatest breadth 0.05 mm. Other 

specimens range from 0.13 to 0.26 mm. in length.

Remarks: Nodosaria liratella, n. sp. is approximately 

one-tenth as large as Nodosaria inmutilata Franzenau 

and differs from N. intercostata Keuss in being about 

one-fifth as large and in having less constricted sutures. 

The present species differs from N. perpusilla Chapman 

in being somewhat smaller, and in having lower chambers and a less acuminate final chamber.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106357), 

figured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106358 a-b) and unfigured 

paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106359) from a core at 6304 to 

6314 feet in the Upper Triassic Shublik formation, in 

Simpson Test Well no. 1, west of Cape Simpson, northern Alaska.

Nodosaria shublikensis Tappan

Plate 3, figures 1-4

Nodosaria shublikensis Tappan, 1951, Cushman Pound. Foram. 

Research, Contr. vol. 2, pt. 1, p. 1, pi. 1, figs, la, b.

Test free, elongate, rectilinear, subcylindrical; chambers numerous, increasing very little in size from the 

rounded base, slightly tapering at the apertural end; 

sutures somewhat obscure, straight; wall calcareous, 

hyaline, surface smooth, ornamented by eight low 

longitudinal costae crossing the sutures; aperture terminal, rounded. Length of holotype 0.60 mm., greatest 

diameter 0.21 mm.

Remarks: This species resembles Nodosaria orthopleura Reuss, in having an elongate test, high ribs and 

obscure sutures, but differs in having a more nearly cylindrical test, and rounded instead of tapering base.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106114) 

and figured paratype (U.S.N.M. 106115) from a 148- 

foot zone, from 353 to 501 feet below the top of the 

Upper Triassic Shublik formation, unfigured paratypes 

(US.N.M. 106367) from the upper 25 feet of the Shublik formation, unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106368)
12 FORAMINIFERA FROM THE AiRCTIC SLOPE OF ALASKA

from 32 to 59 feet below the top of the Shublik formation, unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106369) from 150 

feet below the top and unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 

106370) from 290 feet below the top of the Shublik 

formation, in the banks of a southward-flowing tributary that enters the Sadlerochit River at approximately 

lat. 69°34'30" north, long. 145°03' west, on the south 

slope of the Sadlerochit Mountains, in northeastern 

Alaska. Collected by Edward G. Sable, 1948. Figured 

paratype (U.S.N.M. 106116) and unfigured paratypes 

(U.S.N.M. 106371) from the core at 6316 to 6334 feet 

in the Upper Triassic Shublik formation, in Simpson 

Test Well no. 1, west of Cape Simpson, northern 

Alaska.

Genus FSEUDOGLANDULINA Cushman, 1929

Pseudoglandulina densa Tappan, n. sp.

Plate 4, figures 9-13

Teit free, sub-cylindrical, robust, of medium size; 

chambers about five in number, increasing very little 

in breadth, later chambers overlapping earlier ones, 

final chamber occupying* about two-fifths the length 

of the test; sutures not distinct, but visible when specimen is dampened, sutures about equidistant, not depressed ; wall calcareous, surface smooth; aperture terminal, radiate. Length of holotype 0.57 mm., greatest breadth 0.23 mm. Other specimens range in length 

from 0.36 to 0.57 mm.

Remarks: This species is similar in size and outline 

to Glandulina subconica Alth, but has lower and more 

numerous chambers, and the final chamber does not 

taper toward the aperture.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106381), 

figured paratype (U.S.N.M. 106382) and unfigured 

paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106383) from the upper 25 feet 

of the Upper Triassic Shublik formation, and unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106384) from 353 to 501 

feet below the top of the Shublik formation in the 

banks of a southward-flowing tributary that enters the 

Sadlerochit River at approximately lat. 69°34'30" 

north, long. 145°03' west, on the south slope" of the 

Sadlerochit Mountains, northeastern Alaska. Collected by Edward G. Sable, 1948. Figured paratype 

(U.S.N.M. 106385) from a core at 6316 to 6334 feet in 

the Upper Triassic Shublik formation, in Simpson 

Test Well no. 1, west of Cape Simpson, northern 

Alaska.

Pseudoglandulina lata Tappan, n. sp. 

Plate 3, figures 15, 16

Test free, small, rapidly flaring from the tiny base; 

chambers few, generally not more than four, much 

overlapping, final chamber forming about two-fifths 

the length of the test; sutures not distinct, about equidistant, straight and horizontal; wall calcareous, surface smooth; aperture terminal, rounded. Length of 

holotype 0.26 mm., greatest breadth 0.16 mm. Other 

specimens range in length from 0.26 to 0.31 mm.

Remarks: This species differs from Pseudoglandulina 

simpsonensis, n. sp. in being about one-half as large, 

in having a much more rapidly flaring test, and in lacking the slight neck of P. simpsonensis. Pseudoglandulina densa, n. sp. differs from the present species in being subcylindrical rather than flaring in outline. P. 

lata, n. sp. differs from P. acuta LeRoy in being about 

one-half as large and in lacking the acuminate extremities of that species.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106378) 

from the upper 25 feet of the Shublik formation, unfigured paratype (U.S.N.M. 106379) from 150 feet below 

the top of the formation, unfigured paratype (U.S.N.M. 

106380) from 353 to 501 feet below the top of the formation, all from the banks of a southward-flowing tributary that enters the Sadlerochit River at approximately 

lat. 69°34'30" north, long. 145°03' west, on the south 

slope of the Sadlerochit Mountains, northeastern 

Alaska. Collected by Edward G. Sable, 1948.

Pseudoglandulina simpsonensis Tappan, n. sp. 

Plate 3, figures 9-14

Test free, elongate, tapering, composed of a series of 

rectilinear .chambers; chambers numerous, increasing 

gradually in diameter as added, but increasing less rapidly in height, final chamber comparatively long, about 

twice the length of the immediately preceding chamber, 

tapering somewhat to form a slight neck at the apertural end; sutures distinct, straight, horizontal; wall 

calcareous, hyaline, surface smooth; aperture terminal, 

rounded, on a slight neck. Length of holotype 0.65 mm., 

greatest breadth 0.18 mm. Other specimens range from 

0.31 to 0.88 mm. in length.

Remarks: This species is quite similar to Pseudoglandulina obconica (Reuss) from the Triassic of St. 

Cassian, but does not taper as much nor as regularly. 

No dimensions were given for Reuss's species, nence 

no comparison as to size can be made. P. simpsonensis, 

n. sp. differs from P. scotti Tappan and P. traphera 

Loeblich and Tappan in having lower chambers and a 

more regularly tapering test than these species.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106372), 

figured paratype (U.S.N.M. 106373) and unfigured 

paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106374) from a core at 6304 to 

6314 feet and figured paratype (U.S.N.M. 106375) from 

cuttings at 6415 to 6420 feet, all from the Upper Triassic 

Shublik formation, in Simpson Test Well no. 1, west of 

Cape Simpson, northern Alaska. Figured paratype 

(U.S.N.M. 106376) and unfigured paratype (U.S.N.M. 

106377) from a 27-foot zone, from 32 to 59 feet below
TRIASSIC FORAMINIFERA 13

the top of the Upper Triassic Shublik formation, in the 

banks of a southward-flowing tributary that enters the 

Sadlerochit River at approximately lat. 69°34'30" 

north, long. 145°03' west, on the south slope of the 

Sadlerochit Mountains, northeastern Alaska. Collected 

by Edward G. Sable, 1948.

Genus LINGULINA d'Orbigny, 1826 

lingulina alaskensis Tappan

Plate 4, figures 18-22

Lingulina alaskensis Tappan, 1951, Cushman Found. Foram. 

Research, Contr. vol. 2, pt. 1, p. 1, pi. 1, figs. 2a, b.

Test free, elongate, flattened, robust, margins subacute; early chambers widening rapidly from the 

rounded proloculus, later chambers increasing very little 

in size, so that sides of test are parallel; sutures distinct, 

not depressed, slightly arched centrally; wall calcareous, 

hyaline, surface smooth, ornamented only by a central 

longitudinal furrow, bordered on each side by a low 

rib; aperture terminal, simple. Length of holotype 0.52 

mm., greatest breadth 0.21 mm., thickness through 

center 0.13 mm. Other specimens range from 0.29 to 

0.57 mm. in length.

Remarks: This species resembles Lingulina testudinaria Franke, from the Lias of Germany, in the broad 

low chambers and central lengthwise groove. In L. 

testudinaria the groove is bordered by much stronger 

costae, and the sutures are limbate. The Alaskan species 

differs also in being shorter and narrower.

Types and occurrence: I holotype (U.S..N.M. 106117) 

and paratypes (U.S.N.M. J 06118) from a core at 6304 

to 6314 feet in the Upper ' Triassic Shublik formation, 

in Simpson Test Well no. 1, west of Cape Simpson, 

northern Alaska. Figured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 

106119a-b) and unfiguied paratypes (U.S.N.M. 

106386) from 150 feet below the top of the Shublik 

formation, and unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106387) 

from 353 to 501 feet below t le top of the Shublik formation, in the banks of a southward-flowing tributary 

that enters the Sadlerochit River at approximately lat. 

69°34'30" north, long. 145 C 03' west, on the south slope 

of the Sadlerochit Mountains, northeastern Alaska. 

Collected by Edward G. &,ble, 1948.

Lingulina boreal is Tappan, n. sp.

Plate 4, figures 5-8,14-17

Test free, elongate, subovate in outline, early portion 

flaring rapidly, later portio i with nearly parallel sides, 

compressed, periphery subicute; chambers numerous, 

wide and low, broadly arc led centrally 3 generally 10 

in well-developed specimeas; sutures distinct when 

specimen is dampened, arched centrally and somewhat 

thickened; wall calcareous, hyaline, surface smooth; 

aperture terminal, slightly elongate. Length of holobype 0.49 mm., greatest breadth 0.16 mm., greatest thickness 0.10 mm. Other specimens range from 0.34 to 

0.62 mm. in length.

Remarks: Lingulina T)orealis, n. sp. differs from L, 

hibschi Matouschek in being more elongate, and in having lower and more numerous chambers. It differs from 

L. polymorpha Costa in having more regularly arranged 

and arched chambers, and a less elongate aperture. 

The present species differs from Frondicularia dolium 

Terquem in being much smaller, and in having a less 

ovate cross-section.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106388) 

and figured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106389a-b) from 353 

to 501 feet below the top of the Upper Triassic Shublik 

formation, unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106390) 

from 150 feet below the top of the Shublik formation, 

and unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106391) from 290 

feet below the top of the Shublik formation, all from 

the banks of a southward-flowing tributary that enters 

the Sadlerochit River at approximately lat. 69°34'30" 

north, long. 145 °03' west, on the south slope of the 

Sadlerochit Mountains, northeastern Alaska. Collected 

by Edward G. Sable, 1948. Figured paratype 

(U.S.N.M. 106392) from a core at 6316 to 6334 feet, and 

figured paratype (U.S.N.M. 106393) from a core at 

6346 to 6349 feet, both from the Upper Triassic Shublik 

formation, in Simpson Test Well no. 1, west of Cape 

Simpson, northern Alaska.

Genus PRONDICULABIA Defrance, 1821

Frondicularia acmaea Tappan, n. sp.

Plate 4, figures 1-4

Test free, elongate, flaring broadly, somewhat compressed, periphery sharply angled, with a keel; chanrbers equitant, numerous, widening rapidly from the 

round proloculus, increasing very little in height, 

strongly angled at the center of the faces; sutures distinct when specimen is dampened, not depressed, 

sharply angled, and in some* specimens the outline of 

the apertural necks of previous chambers can be seen 

through the wall; wall calcareous, hyaline, surface 

smooth, ornamented by two to three low continuous 

ribs on each side of the center of the faces of the test, 

the ribs paralleling the margins of the test and thus 

diverging sharply, crossing and obscuring -the sutures; 

aperture terminal, rounded, on a slight neck. Length 

of holotype 0.73 mm., greatest breadth 0.29 mm., greatest thickness 0.10 mm.

Remarks: Because of its large size and comparatively 

delicate form, and the very hard and indurated nature 

of the enclosing beds, it has been impossible to secure 

large unbroken specimens of this species, although a 

number of fragments have been obtained, and some, 

such as the two specimens figured, are nearly complete. 

This species is similar to Frondicularia offings Neuge-
14 FORAMINIFERA FROM THE ARCTIC SLOPE OF ALASKA

boren in having about four continuous ribs on each 

face, and in having a carinate margin, but differs in 

having a much more flaring test, rather than subparallel 

sides, and in having more strongly angled sutures.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106394) 

and unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106395) from 150 

feet below the top of the Upper Triassic Shublik formation, figured paratype (U.S.N.M. 106396) from the 

upper 25 feet of the formation, unfigured paratype 

(U.S.N.M. 106397) front 32 to 59 feet below the top 

of the formation, unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 

106398) from 290 feet below the top and unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106399) from 353 to 501 feet below 

the top of the Shublik formation, all from the banks 

of a southward-flowing tributary that enters the 

Sadlerochit River at approximately lat. 69°34/30// 

north, long. 145°03/ west, on the south slope of the 

Sadlerochit Mountains, northeastern Alaska. Collected 

by Edward G. Sable, 1948.

Family POLYMORPHINIDAE

Subfamily POLYMORPHININAE

Genus EOGUTTULINA Cushman and Ozawa, 1930

Eoguttuliua bulgella Tappan, n. sp.

Plate 4, figures 23, 24

Test free, elongate, tapering at the apertural end, base 

rounded; chambers in a spiral series, each farther removed from the base, increasing rapidly in size, final 

chamber occupying over one half the length of the 

test; sutures distinct; wall probably calcareous, but all 

specimens seen are preserved as pyritic casts, no ornamentation preserved; aperture radiate, at the end of the 

somewhat produced final chamber. Length of holotype 

0.52 mm., greatest breadth 0.21 mm. Other specimens 

are from 0.47 to 0.52 mm. in length.

Remarks: This species is closest to JSoguttulina liassica (Strickland) from the Jurassic of England, but 

differs in being thicker centrally, with a tapering apertural extremity, in having more rapidly enlarging 

chambers and in having more nearly horizontal sutures, 

those of E. liassica being much more oblique.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106400) 

and unfigured paratype (U.S.N.M. 106401) from cuttings at 6380 to 6385 feet, and figured paratype 

(U.S.N.M. 106402) from cuttings at 6345 to 6350 feet, 

from the Upper Triassic Shublik formation, in Simpson Test Well no. 1, west of Cape Simpson, northern 

Alaska.

Genus SAGOPLECTA Tappan, n. gen. 

Genotype: Sagoplecta goniata Tappan, n. sp. 

Diagnosis: Test free, elongate, early portion biserial, 

later portion uniserial and quadrate or flattened with

the later chambers equitant and chevron-shaped, overhanging earlier chambers at the angles of the test; wall 

calcareous; aperture terminal, radiate.

Remarks: This genus is closely related to the polymorphinid genus Spirofrondicularia Schubert ( = 

Quadrulina Cushman and Ozawa), which it resembles 

in the overhanging corners of the angular terminal 

chambers. The present genus is distinctly biserial in 

the early stages, and Spirofrondicularia differs in having a tetraloculine early chamber arrangement. Sagoplecta resembles Pyrulinoides Marie in the early development, but differs in having the later uniserial equitant chambers. The chamber arrangement of Sagoplecta parallels that of Parafrondicularia Asano, which 

has been referred to the Lagenidae, but the present 

genus is related to the Polymorphinidae in having a 

thicker test and less regularly arranged chambers, while 

Parafrondicularia is compressed, and the regular 

chamber arrangement is more like that of Frondicularia 

or Plectofrondioularia.

"Frondicularia" patradowa Berthelin, from the Jurassic of France, also is biserial with later uniserial equitant chambers. The carinate margins, compressed 

test, and simple rounded aperture suggest that this species is a lagenid and it should probably be referred 

to Parafrondicularia. It has been placed in Flabellina, 

but seems to have a definite biserial early stage, and 

show no true coiling.

The three species of /Sagoplecta here described differ 

in one or more important specific characteristics, and 

the genus .thus seems to have been well developed in 

the Upper Triassic. As no other species are known, 

the range is at present limited to the Upper Triassic.

Sagoplecta gouiata Tappan, n. sp. 

Plate 5, figures 1-8

Test free, elongate, triangular to rectangular in section, early biserial portion short, consisting of only 

two to five chambers, followed by one or two terminal 

uniserial chambers, which are triangular or quadrangular in section, angles bluntly rounded; chambers few, 

increasing rapidly in size as added, biserial chambers 

small, uniserial chambers with considerable overlapping 

of the earlier chambers, final chamber approximately 

one half the length of the test, and resembling an inverted cone, chamber margins nearest the base serrate, 

with a stronger lobe at the angles so that the chambers 

overhang farther at the angles; sutures distinct, depressed, early ones curved and oblique, later ones horizontal but arched on the faces of the test and recurved 

at the angles; wall probably calcareous, but specimens 

preserved only as pyritic casts, surface smooth, with no 

ornamentation other than the serrate lower margins of
TRIASSIC FORAMESriFERA 15

the chambers which very j robably reflect the presence 

of ribs on the surface of the test, although no wellpreserved specimens have been found to support this;

aperture terminal, radiate 

mm., greatest breadth 0.'

Length of holotype 0.65 

9 mm., greatest thickness 

0.21 mm. Other specimer s range from 0.31 to 0.65

mm. in length.

Remarks: This species is closest to the Cretaceous 

Spirofrondicularia rhabd&gonioides (Chapman) in 

general outline and subquadrate section, but differs in 

being twice as large, in being biserial to uniserial in 

plan rather than quadrisei ial, and in having a more 

produced final chamber. The present species is also 

ornamented by the serrate chamber margins (possibly 

reflecting surface ribs) but the Cretaceous species has 

no surface ornamentation.

Types and occurrence: t. olotype (U.S.N.M. 106403) 

from cuttings at 6345 to (1350 feet, figured paratype 

(U.S.N.M. 106404) and unflgured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 

106405) from a core at 6305 to 6306 feet, figured paratype (U.S.N.M. 106406) from cuttings at 6375 to 6380 

feet, figured paratype (U.S.N.M. 106407) from cuttings at 6380 to 6385 :feet, unfigured paratypes 

(U.S.N.M. 106408) from ctttings at 6355 to 6360 feet, 

all from the Upper Trias sic Shublik formation, in 

Simpson Test Well no. 1, west of Cape Simpson, northern Alaska.

Sagoplecta himatioMes Tappan, n. sp. 

Plate 5, figures 9-13

Test free, palmate, broad and flattened, early portion 

biserial, later portion with uniserial equitant chambers, 

periphery bluntly rounded; chambers broad and low, 

increasing rapidly; in size as added; sutures distinct, 

much constricted, giving a serrate margin to the test, 

very strongly oblique in the early biserial portion and 

acutely angled in the unisemal portion; wall probably 

calcareous, although all specimens observed have been 

represented only by pyritia casts; aperture terminal, 

radiate. Length of holotyp^ 0.47 mm., greatest breadth 

0.34 mm., greatest thickness 0.23 mm. Other specimens 

range from 0.23 to 0.57 mm. in length.

Remarks: This species is closest to Spirofrondicu,- 

laria frondicularioides (Chg pman) in general outline, 

flattened test and equitant :inal chambers, but differs 

in having a biserial rather t] an quadriserial early portion, in having an elongate miserial stage of as many 

as three broad low equitant chambers and in being 

more flattened in section, and nearly twice as large.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106409) 

and figured paratypes (U.S N.M. 106410a-b) and unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106411) from a core at 

6305 to 6306 feet, unfigu-ed paratype (U.S.N.M. 

106412) from cuttings at 6330 to 6335 feet, and unfigured paratype (U.S.N.M. 106413) from cuttings at 

6455 to 6460 feet, all from the Upper Triassic Shublik 

formation, in Simpson Test Well no. 1, west of Cape 

Simpson, northern Alaska.

Sagoplecta incrassata Tappan, n. sp. * 

Plate 5, figures 14-16

Test free, elongate, slightly flattened, ovate in section, 

early biserial portion reduced, consisting of only two 

to four biserial chambers, later portion consisting of 

uniserial equitant chambers, margins serrate, periphery 

rounded; chambers increasing gradually in size as 

added, overlapping previous chambers, final chamber 

reaching back nearly one-half the length of the test 

and much longer than previous chambers; sutures distinct, depressed, oblique in early portion, arched in later 

portion; wall calcareous, but all specimens preserved 

only as pyritic casts, no surface ornamentation; aperture terminal, slightly elongated, probably radiate. 

Length of holotype 0.70 mm., greatest breadth 0.26 mm., 

greatest thickness 0.18 mm. Other specimens vary 

from 0.29 to 0.70 mm. in length.

Remarks: This species differs from Spirofrondicularia frondicularioides (Chapman) in being about twice 

as large and more ovate in section, in having an early 

biserial stage followed by equitant uniserial chambers, 

and in the final chamber being about one-half the length 

of the test. Sagoplecta incrassata, n. sp. differs from 

S. himatioides, n. sp. in being more narrow and less 

compressed, in having less strongly angled sutures and 

in the final chamber being much produced, occupying 

approximately one-half the length of the test.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M; 106414) 

from cuttings at 6375 to 6380 feet, figured paratype 

(U.S.N.M. 106415) from cuttings at 6325 to 6330 feet, 

unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106416) from cuttings 

at 6370 to 6375 feet, unfigured paratype (U.S.N.M. 

106417) from cuttings at 6460 to 6465 feet, all from the 

Upper Triassic Shublik formation, in Simpson Test 

Well no. 1, west of Cape Simpson, northern Alaska.

Genus PYRULINOIDES Marie, 1941 

Pyrulinoides plagia Tappan, n. sp.

Plate 4, figures 25-27

Test free, elongate," acuminate at both extremities, 

chambers biserially arranged throughout, slightly inflated, increasing rapidly in size as added, final chamber extending from one-half to two-thirds the length of 

the test; sutures distinct, depressed, strongly oblique; 

wall probably calcareous, but all specimens are preserved only as pyritic casts, no ornamentation preserved ; aperture terminal, radiate. Length of holotype 

0.57 mm., breadth 0.26 mm., greatest thickness 0.13 mm. 

Other specimens vary in length from 0.13 to 0.57 mm.
16 FORAMINIFERA FROM THE ARCTIC SLOPE OF ALASKA

Remarks: Although Marie stated that Pyrulinoides 

differed from Polymorphina in being circular in section 

rather than compressed, the present species is closer 

to the comparatively primitive Pyrulinoides than to the 

very advanced Polymorphina, which develops a sigmoid 

character while biserial and compressed throughout. 

Pyrulinoides plagia, n. sp. differs from Pyrulinoides 

acuminata (d'Orbigny) in being compressed in section, 

in having a slightly lobulate outline and in having a 

produced final chamber.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106418) 

from cuttings at 6380 to 6385 feet, figured paratype 

(U.S.N.M. 106419) and unfigured paratype (U.S.N.M. 

106434) from a core, at 6305 to 6306 feet, unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106435) from a core at 6304 to 6314 

feet, unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106420) from cuttings at 6310 to 6315 feet, unfigured paratype (U.S.N.M. 

106421) from cuttings at 6335 to 6340 feet, unfigured 

paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106431) from cuttings at 6345 to 

6350 feet, unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106432) from 

a core at 6347'8" to 6348'8" and unfigured paratype 

(U.S.N.M. 106433) from cuttings at 6440 to 6445 feet, 

all from the Upper Triassic Shublik formation, in 

Simpson Test Well no. 1, west of Cape Simpson, northern Alaska.

Family BULIMINIDAE

Subfamily VIRGTTLININAE

Genus BOLIVINA d'Orbigny, 1839

Bolivina lathetica Tappan, n. sp.

Plate 5, figures 17-19

Test free, tiny, elongate, tapered at the base, biserial 

throughout, ovate in section, periphery broadly 

rounded; chambers numerous, low and broad, increasing 

rapidly in size as added; sutures distinct, depressed, 

slightly oblique; wall probably calcareous, although all 

specimens found have been represented only by pyritic 

casts, no ornamentation preserved; aperture a short 

loop at the base of the final chamber. Length of holotype 0.23 mm., greatest breadth 0.10 mm., greatest thickness 0.08 mm. Other specimens range from 0.16 to 0.23 

mm. in length.

Remarks: This species is closest to B. incrassata Reuss 

from the Cretaceous of Germany, but differs in being 

only about one-fourth as large, in having a more acutely 

angled base and a more rapidly flaring test.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106436) 

from cuttings at 6435 to 6440 feet, figured paratype 

(U.S.N.M. 106437) from a core at 6304 to 6314 feet, 

unfigured paratype (U.S.N.M. 106438) from a core at 

6346 to 6349 feet, all from the Upper Triassic Shublik 

formation, in Simpson Test Well no. 1, west of Cape 

Simpson, northern Alaska.

Family SPIBJLLINIDAE

Subfamily SPIRILLININAE

Genus SPIRILLINA Ehrenberg, 1843

Spirillina gurgitata Tappan, n. sp.

Plate 5, figures 20-22

Test free, tiny, planispiral, consisting of a globular 

proloculus and coiled tubular second chamber which increases very little in diameter throughout its length; 

wall probably calcareous, hyaline, the only specimens 

found being represented by pyritic casts; aperture at 

the open end of the tube. Greatest diameter of holotype 

0.13 mm., greatest thickness 0.03 mm. Greatest diameter of paratype 0.16 mm.

Remarks: This species is closest to Spirillina orbicula 

Terquem and Berthelin, from the Lower Jurassic, but 

differs in being considerably smaller and in the tubular 

chamber being of nearly the same diameter throughout.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106439) 

and figured paratype (U.S.N.M. 106440) from a core at 

6304 to 6314 feet in the Upper Triassic Shublik formation, in Simpson Test Well no. 1, west of Cape Simpson, 

northern Alaska.

Family ROTALIIDAE

Subfamily DISCORBINAE

Genus DISCORBIS Lamarck, 1804

Discorbis pristina Tappan, n. sp.

Plate 5, figures 23-25

Test free, small, trochoid, ventrally umbilicate, somewhat flattened, the 2*/2 whorls entirely visible dorsally, 

only the last whorl visible from the ventral side, periphery subacute; chambers increasing in size as added, 

about five to six in the last whorl; sutures distinct, depressed, radiate; wall probably calcareous, but specimens are represented only by pyritic casts; aperture obscure, but apparently slightly ventral, at the base of the 

final chamber. Greatest diameter of holotype 0.29 mm., 

least diameter 0.23 mm., greatest thickness 0.08 mm. 

Other specimens range in diameter from 0.16 to 0.29 mm.

Remarks: Discorbis pristina, 11. sp. differs from D. 

collinsi Parr in being about one-half as large, in having 

a greater number of whorls, and in being more compressed.

Types and occurrence: Holotype (U.S.N.M. 106441) 

and paratype (U.S.N.M. 106442) from a core at 6316 

to 6334 feet, unfigured paratypes (U.S.N.M. 106443) 

from a core at 6304 to 6314 feet, and unfigured paratype 

(U.S.N.M. 106444) from cuttings at 6335 to 6340 feet, 

all from the Upper Triassic Shublik formation, in 

Simpson Test Well no. 1, west of Cape Simpson, northern Alaska.
R

Bornemann, J. G., 1886, 

kalks, insbesondere d 

des Unteren Muschel 

Preuss. geol. Landesanst 

pp. 267-321, pis. 7-14.

Chapman, Frederick, 1895 

more, in Somerset: A 

6th ser., no. 44, pp. 30

———-, 1900, Foraminifera

eitrage zur Kenntniss des Muschel- 

;r Schichtenfolge und der Gesteine 

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und Bergakad. zu Berlin, vol. 6,

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————, 1909, On some Mi 

New South Wales: R> 

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Cushman, J. A., 1910-191C 

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TRIASSIC FORAMINIFERA 17

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Schwager, G., 1864, in Dittmar's Die Contorta Zone: pp. 198-

201, pi. 3, Munchen. 

Tappan, Helen, 1951, Northern Alaska index Foraminifera:

Cushman Found. Foram. Research, Contr., vol. 2, pt. 1, pp.

1-8, pi. 1. 

Vadasz, E. M., 1911, Triasforaminiferen aus dem Bakony: Resultate der Wissenschaft. Erforschung der Balatonsees,

Paleont. der Umgebung des Balatonsees, Band 1, Teil 1,

Abh. 1, pp. 1-44, 2 pis., 20 text figs.

——, 1933, Neuer Beitrag sur Frage der Triasforaminiferen im

Bakony: Centralbl. Mineralogie, Abt. B, No. 3, pp. 173-

178. 

Wickenden, R. T. D., 1932a, A useful Foraminifera horizon in

the Alberta shale of southern Alberta: Jour. Paleontology,

vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 203-207, pi. 29.

————, 1932b, New species of Foraminifera from the Upper 

Cretaceous of the Prairie provinces, Royal Soc. Canada 

Trans., 3rd ser., vol. 26, sec. 4, pp. 85-92, pi. 1.

————, 1933, Jurassic Foraminifera from wells in Alberta and 

Saskatchewan: Royal Soc. Canada Trans., 3rd ser., sec. 4, 

vol. 27, pp. 157-170, pis. 1-2.

————, 1949, Eoeponidella, a new genus from the Upper Cretaceous: Royal Soc. Canada Trans., 3rd ser., vol. 42, sec. 4,

pp. 81-82, figs. la-c. , 

Wirz, Albert, 1945, Beitrage zur Kenntnis des Ladinikurns in

Gebiete des Monte San Giorgio, Die Triasfauna der Tessiner Kalkalpen, 15: Schweizer, palaeont. Abh. Band 65, 84

pp., 3 pis., 8 text figs. 

Wood, A., 1947, The supposed Cambrian Foraminifera from the

Malverns : Geol. Soc. London, Quart. Jour., vol. 102, pp. 447-

460, pis. 26-28.

INDEX

[Italic page numbers indicate descriptions]

Page 

Abstract__-._.-..._.___.._.--._........._._..___..._........ 5

Acknowledgments—------------.-------------------..-----..--.-.........._ 2-3

acmaea, Frondicularia... ___..-.-__...___..__.____________________________ IS, pi. 4

aerulus, Vaginulinopsis..............................^...................... 10, pi. 3

acuminata, Pyrulinoides...................................................... 16

acuta, Pseudoglandulina..... ._............_..........__.........._.. 12

adoza, Gaudryina........................................ .................... 9, pi. 2

affinis, Frondicularia.-..........._.................._.................... 13

alaskensis, Lingulina........... __------.---.----...-..................... IS, pi. 4

aUiformis, Trochammina glMgeriniformis..................................... 9

Ammobaculites goodlandensis...... ._........___....._..........__. 8

sthenarus................................................................ 8, pi. 1

Ammodiscidae.-.-...-........................................................ 8

Ammodiscus.................................................................. 7

Anomalina................................^.....................__....... 7

Astacolus connudatus. ......---____-___-_-___-.___.____________...._... 10, pi. 2

(Astacolus) dubia, Cristellaria................................................. 10

Barnard cited.-.---------.__.----..-_--...-..........._............._.. 7

bearpawensis, Gaudryina...................................................... 9

beyrichi, Nodosaria............................................................ 11

Biloculina......................................_......___.................... 6

Biostratigraphy....................._______________...._____.. 3

Bolivina...................................................................... 7

incrassata........................................... ____________________ 16

lathetica................................................................ 16, pi. 5

borealis, Lingulina............. .........._______________________________ IS, pi. 4

Bornemann cited. ________.........._...___________........._... 7

bulgetta, Eoguttulina........................................................ 14, pi. 4

Buliminidae_____________._____________....___ 16

canadensis, Gaudryina......................................................... 9

Chapman cited_____________________._______...._.__ 7

Climate.._-_...___..............__.___-_..__--.__________________ 1

collinsi, Discorbis............................................................. 16

concinna, Nodosaria........................................................... 11

Conditions affecting work.__________--.____-_______-_________________. 1

Conotrochammina............................................................. 9

connudatus, Astacolus...................................................... 10, pi. 2

contornata, Trochammina.......................... ________________________ 9, pi. 1

Cornuspira................................................ _________________ 6,7

coronus, Trochamminoides.................................................... 8

Correlations, difficulties......._--_„__-___._-_______________...._...__ 4

Cristellaria............................. _______________________ 6,7

(Astacolus) dubia......................................................... 10

(Robulind) polyphragma.................................................. 10

densa, Pseudoglandulina.................................................... H, pi. 4

Dentalina..................................................................... 6,7

dentalina, Marginulina........................................................ 10

Discorbina..------... ....____......__...."......_____________ 7

Discorbis collinsi....................... _________________________________ 16

pristina................................................................ 16, pi. 5

dolium, Frondicularia.. _.-_____-_______.........._-___.-___._... 13

dorsata, Marginulina...--............_.------.._....__-_---.---_--___ 10

dubia, Cristellaria (Astacolus)..--......________........._______ 10

Eoguttulinabulgella.......................i__________________ 14, pi. 4

liassica................... ......._......____..-...____.._.. 14

Facies character of the fauna......._____.____...___..._____ 4

Fauna, character of._____-__.____........._...._--.-_.__.__. 1-3

FlabeUina........................................................... ._____ 14

Frondicularia acmaea......................................._________ 13, pi. 4

affinis..............._------___--___-_-------------._-----_.._.. 13

dolium.................................................................... 13

paradoxa.--........._______.__.--..-._.-__......__-.... 14

frondicularioides, Spirofrondicularia.............. ......______._____ 15

Gaudryina..........................................................__._.. 3

adoxa................................................................... 9, pi. 2

bearpawensis.............................................................. 9

canadensis................................................................ 9

hectori.................................................................... 9

Glandulina................................................................... 6

subconica................................................................. 12

Page 

glareosa, Tolypammina...................................................... 8, pi. 2

Globigerina...................................................................... 3,6

globigeriniformis aUiformis, Trochammina..................................... 9

Globulina..................................................................... 6

goniata, Sagoplecta......................................................... 14, pi. 5

goodlandensis, Ammobaculites.-............................................... 8

Giimbel cited___.___.__..--..______.--.-_.--.__...__. 7

Gumbelina.......... _. — —— — ------------.-.---.. —— _ —— _. ————..—— 3

gurgitata, SpiriUina........................................................ 16, pi. 5

Guttulina.........................'............................................ 7

Halobia....................................................................... 5,6

Haplophragmoides............................................................ 3

hectori, Gaudryina...............................................______. 9

helicta, Trochammina........................................................ 9, pi. 1

hibschi, Lingulina............................................................. 13

himatioides, Sagoplecta...................................................... 15, pi. 5

Hyperammina vagans......................................................... 8

incerta, Nodosaria............................................................. 11

incrassata, Bolivina........................................................... 16

Sagoplecta.............................................................. IS, pi. 5

indica, Marginulina........................................................... 11

inmutilata, Nodosaria......................................................... 11

intercostata, Nodosaria......................................................... 11

Introduction, general._______..........___.....___------------_... 1-5

Triassic Foraminifera________________......___.....___.. 5

Jones and Parker cited..,.__.-_-_.__-____-._.__..- ——... —— ——...... 6

Kirchner cited___...____.-._....._.....__---...-.._------_--.-- 7

labiosa, Trochammina......................................................... 9

Lagena.................................. __.__------___-__-__-____--__... 7

Lagenidae_______________________.___________- 10 

larina, Nodosaria........................................................... 11, pi. 3

lata, Pseudoglandulina-..................................................... 12, pi. 3

lathetica, Bolivina........................................................... 16, pi. 5

liassica, Eoguttulina....------------------------------------------------------- 14

Lingulina__---- — ----------------__-----_-_-__-____..-------._.._.._._- 7

alaskensis....--------__-.-....--...__......_.........\......... IS, pi. 4

borealis...——... ————.- — -.— — — .— — — ———.—-..-.--— IS, pi. 4

hibschi..................... ............................................... 13

testudinaria........................................._...__. —. ——. 13

liratetta, Nodosaria--..... ________________________.___ 11, pi. 3

Lituolidae.-------------_------_-----------__-—-------- — ——.. —.. 8

Location._......_........._...--...._________------- — —.- 1,2

Marginulina....--..-..----.------...-----..-.---.....--.-----.--...-----....- 6,7

dentalina................................................ ________—— 10

dorsata.................................................................... 10

indica........................................ ___________———.. 11

prisca..... ............_.............._..-.........._......_...— 10, pi. 2

Mariani cited_____________._____.___.____________- 7 

Microfauna, character of Alaskan Triasslc__.__.--___---_-.-..__..._... 7-8 

Monotis.- ------____--_------_-_-------_--_----__--------_.------.----__. 5,6

Naval Petroleum Reserve no. 4_______ _____________. __ 1,5, figs. 1,2 

Nodosaria................... _——.. ——............ —......... — ——— —.. 7

beyrichi...... ___.---.____...--..--__.._------_---_____---_____-__... 11

concinna..... .._--_.....-._------__-___----_---..._--.-.-——— 11

incerta---..-.---.......................... ——— ——..... —— — ---------- 11

inmutilata------.-..--........................................ —— —.... 11

intercostata..................................................__.——— 11

larina.................................................................. 11, pi. 3

llTateUa................................................................. 11, pi. 3

orthopleura................................................................ 11

pupa..........--.........-------.-------.---.-...-------..------.-.---... 11

shublikensis............................................................. 11, pi. 3

obconica, Pseudoglandulina................................................... 12

orbicula, SpirlOina.—....................—.................................. 16

orthopleura, Nodosaria.......................--------------------------------- 11

pachynota, Vaginulinopsis... ......._................———-.-.. ——._-.-.— 11

paradoxa, "Frondicularia"._.__........_....................—...... ——. 14

Pardfrondicularia.-...................--------____-__.----...______- 14

perpusilla, Nodosaria.....................................--................... 11

plagia, Pyrulinoides........................................................ IS, pi. 4

19
20 INDEX

Page 

Plectofrondicularia................... .__-....____-__........_--_ 14

Polymorphina.... _______„...___._____.--._......__.--.. 6,7,16

Polymorphinidae.............................................................. 14

polyphragma, Cristellaria (Robulina) ____....__..---.___-___._.. 10

Preservation of the microfossils. ___________________ l __. __ 4 

Previous work-.________.___._______________._.__ 1,5,6-7 

prisca, Marginulina......................................................... 10, pi. 2

a, Discorbis.......................................................... 16, pi. 5

— —————— — — ————— ————— —————— 6,7

acuta..................................................................... 12

densa.................................................................. 12, pi. 4

lota.................................................................... 1H, pi. 3

obconica_____—_____-___................___ — — __ — —.__._.. 12

scotti...................................................................... 12

simpsonensis........................................................... IS, pi. 3

traphera.................................................................. 12

Pseudomonotes.... -__ —————-_-_-----__._......_.--..____ 5

PuMnulina................................................................... 1

pupa, Nodosaria.............................................................. 11

Pyrulinoides......................................................._____ 14,16

acuminata................................................................ 16

plagia....... ______.______........___.___________ IB, pi. 4

Quadrulina................................................................... 14

References cited.-..-_.__......_.___.._.__— — ._--.__ 17

Remoteness from equivalent faunas__-______..-____.___.__ 4 

Reuss cited..____________________._.______......____ 6

rhabdogonioides, Sjnrofrondicularia............................................ 15

Rhynchonella................................................................. 5

ribstonensis, Trochammina.................................................... 9

(Robulina) polyphragma, Cristettaria.......................................... 10

Rotalia........................................................................ 7

Rotaliidae-—............................................................... 16

Sagoplecta.................................................................... 8,14

goniata................................................................. 14, pi.5

himatioid.es.-........................................................... 15, pi. 5

incrassata.............................................................. 15, pi. 5

Samples, examination and analysis...... __._ —. _______________ 4

source-__..._____.__.___________..._________ 1 

Schwager cited.._______________.—___._____._____ 6 

seotti, Pseudoglandulina....................................................... 12

Page 

Sediments, character of.....——.. —————————————————————... 1

shublikensis, Nodosaria..................................................... 11, pi. 3

Significance of the investigation__ — - — - ——_ — —. —— — — — - — -------- 1

s, Pseudoglandulina..........-...-...--...---.-............... 1%, pi. 3

--. —— ———_---.- —— —— --- —— — —— —— -- 16, pi. 5

orbicula................................................................... 16

Spirfllinidae——.———————————————————— 16

Spirofrondicularia............................................................. 14

frondicularioides.....................................i..................... • 15

rhabdogonioides.----——................. —————————— ——————— 15

sthenarus, AmmobaculUes............................................-------- 8, pi. 1

subconica, OUndulina......................................................... 12

Terebratula..-........... — ...............................—.......... — ...— 5

Terrain—__ —————— — —— —— —— — ———— ——————————— 1

tesludinaria, lAngulina......——. ——————————.—————————————— 13

Textilaria..................................................................... 6

Textularia.................................................................... 6,7

Tolypa-mminaglareosa... ——————.—-——————————————————- 8, pi. 2 

traphera, Pseudoglandulina.-......... — ....................................... 12

Triassic Foraminifera.——————————. — —— — ————————————-— 6-17

TrUoculina................................................................... 7

Trochammina................................................................. 3,6,7

contornata..................—..—.. — .. —.............—............... 9, pi. 1

globigeriniformis attiformis................................................. 9

helicta—................................................................ 9, pi. 1

labiosa..............................................———————————— 9

ribstonensis............................................................... 9

Trochamminidae.—_--------- —. — ------ — — — —— — —. —— —— — — 9

Trochamminoides coronus........................................r............ 8

eelascoensis............-.--............................................... 8

vertens.................................................................. 8, pi. 2

Truncatulina.........—.———. ——— —— —————————————————— -- 7

Vadasz cited.—--------- —————. — —— - — — - ———— — — — — —— — 7

vagans, Hyperammina................................. ———— —. ———.—— 8

Vaginwlinopsis acrvlus..................................................... 10, pi. 3

pachynota........................... ....................————————— 11

velascoensis, Trochamminoides................................................. 8

Verneuilinidae—._——————————————-————————————————— 9 

vertens, Trochamminides..................................................... 8, pi. 2

Wood cited...._.__ ——— ——— ———————————————————— 7

o


PLATES 1-5
PLATE 1

FIGURES 1-3. Ammobaculites sthenarus Tappan, n. sp. 1, Side view of paratvpe (U.S.N.M. 106328). 2, Side view of holotype

(U.S.N.M. 106327); 3, edge view, showing terminal aperture. ' X 72. (p. 8) 

4-6. Trochammina contornata Tappan, n. sp. 4, Ventral view of holotype (U.S.N.M. 106333), showing umbilicus; 5, dorsal

view; 6, edge view. X 95. (p. 9) 

7-9. Trochammina helicta Tappan, n. sp. 7, Dorsal view of holotype (U.S.N.M. 106334); 8, ventral view; 9, edge view.

X 72. (p. 9)
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 236 PLATE 1

LITUOLIDAE, TROCHAMMIMDAE
PLATE 2

FIGURES 1-2. Tolypammina glareosa Tappan, n. sp. 1, External view of holotvpe (U.S.X.M. 106322). 2, View of attached side

of paratype (U.S.X.M. 106323). X 41. (p. 8)

3, 4. Trochamminoides vertens Tappan, n. sp. 3, Side view of holotvpe (U.S.X.M. 106324); 4, edge view. X 158. (p. 8) 

5-7. Gaudryina adoxa Tappan, n. sp. 5, Side view of paratype (U.S.X.M. 106330). 6, Side view of holotvpe (U.S.X.M.

106329); 7, top view. X 158. (p. 9)

8-19. Astacolus connudatus Tappan, n. sp. 8, Side view of paratype (U.S.X.M. 106347a). 9, Side view of paratvpe (U.S.X.M. 

106339a). 10, Side view of paratype (U.S.X.M. 106339b). 11, Side view of paratype (U.S.X.M. 106339c). 12, 

Side view of paratvpe (U.S.X.M. 106345), represented bv an internal pyritic cast onlv. 13, Side view of paratype 

(U.S.X.M. 106337a). 14, Side view of holotvpe (U.S.X.M. 106336); 15, edge view. 16, Side view of paratype 

(U.S.X.M. 106337b). 17, Side view of paratvpe (U.S.X.M. 106337c). 18, Side view of paratype (U.S.XlM. 

106347b). 19, Side view of paratype (U.S.X.M. 106347c). X 95. (p. 10)

20-23. Marginiilina prisca Tappan, n. sp. 20, Side view of holotvpe (U.S.X.M. 106350); 21, edge view. 22, Side view of 

paratype (U.S.X.M. 106352); 23, top view. X 95. (p/10)
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 236 PLATE 2

AMMODISCIDAE, LITLOLIDAE, VERNEl ILIMDAE. LAGEMDAE
PLATE 3

FIGURES 1-4. Nodosaria shublikensis Tappan. 1, Side view of paratype (U.S.N.M. 106116). 2, Side view of holotvpe (U.S.X.M.

106114); 3, top view. 4, Side view of paratype (U.S.N.M. 106115). X 95. (p. 11) 

5-8. Nodosaria larina Tappan, n. sp. 5, Side view of paratype (U.S.N.M. 106364). 6, Side view of paratype (U.S.X.M.

106361). 7, Side view of holotype (U.S.N.M. 106360), showing subglobular chambers and constricted sutures;

8, top view. X 95. (p. 11) 

9-14. Pseudoglandulina simpsonensis Tappan, n. sp. 9, Side view of holotype (U.S.N.M. 106372), showing closely appressed

chambers, and tapering base; 10, top view. 11, Side view of paratype (U.S.N.M. 106376); 12, top view. 13, Side

view of paratype (U.S.N.M. 106375). 14, Side view of paratype (U.S.N.M. 106373). X 95. (p. 12) 

15, 16. Pseudoglandulina lota Tappan, n. sp. 15, Side view of holotype (U.S.N.M. 106378), showing small size, abruptly

flaring test and unconstricted sutures; 16, top view. X 95. (p. 12) 

17-20. Nodosaria liratella Tappan, n. sp. 17, Side view of paratype (U.S.N.M. 106358a), showing small size, obscure sutures

and megalospheric form. 18, Side view of paratype (U.S.N.M. 106358b). 19, Side view of microspheric holotype

(U.S.N.M. 106357), showing more tapering test; 20, top view. X 218. (p. 11) 

21-23. Vaginulinopsis acrulus Tappan, n. sp. 21, Side view of microspheric holotvpe (U.S.N.M. 106354); 22, edge view.

23, Side view of megalospheric paratype (U.S.N.M. 106355). X 95. (p/10)
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 236 PLATE 3

LAGENIDAE
PLATE 4

FIGURES 1-4. Frondicularia acmaea Tappan, n. sp. 1, Side view of holotype (U.S.X.M. 106394), showing large flaring test, round 

proloculus, diverging longitudinal ribs, and carinate margins: 2, edge view. 3, Side view of paratype (U.S.X.M. 

106396), showing character of apertural portion; 4, top view. X 95. (p. 13)

5-8, 14-17. Lingulina borealis Tappan, n. sp. 5, Side view of large megalospheric paratype (U.S.X.M. 106392); 6, edge view. 7, 

Side view of crushed and exfoliated microspheric paratype (U.S.X.M. 106393); 8, top view. 14, Side view of paratype (U.S.X.M. 106389a). 15, Side view of paratype (U.S.X.M. 106389b). 16, Side view of holotype (U.S.X.M. 

106388): 17, top view. X 95. (p. 13)

9-13. Pseudoglandulina densa Tappan, n. sp. 9, Side view of crushed paratype (U.S.X.M. 106385); 10, edge view, showing 

amount of compression. 11, Side view of paratype (U.S.X.M. 106382). 12, Side view of holotype (U.S.X.M. 

106381), showing slightly flaring test, obscure sutures and rounded base; 13, top view. X 95. (p. 12)

18-22. Lingulina alaskensis Tappan. 18, Side view of holotype (U.S.X.M. 106117), showing central longitudinal furrow 

and broadly arched sutures; 19, top view. 20, Side view of paratype (U.S.X.M. 106119a), a small megalospheric 

form. 21, Side view of large microspheric paratype (U.S.X.M. 106119b); 22, top view. X 95. (p. 13)

23,24. Eoguttulina bulgella Tappan, n. sp. 23, Side view of holotype (U.S.X.M. 106400). 24, Side view of paratype 

(U.S.X.M. 106402). X 95. (p. 14)

25-27. Pyrulinoidcs plagia Tappan, n. sp. 25, Side view of paratype (U.S.X.M. 106419). 26, Side view of holotype (U.S.X.M. 

106418), showing fusiform test, oblique sutures and biserial character; 27, top view. X 95. (p. 15)
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

PROFESSIONAL PAPER 236 PLATE 4

LAGEMDAE, POLYMORPHIMDAE
PLATE 5

FIGURES 1-8. Sagoplecta goniata Tappan, n. gen., n. sp. 1, Side view of paratype (U.S.X.M. 106407). 2, Side view of microspheric holotype (U.S.X.M. 106403), showing biserial early chambers, followed by uniserial, subquadrate 

chambers, overhanging at the angles; 3, top view; 4, basal view, showing subquadrate section and biserial 

early chamber arrangement. 5, Side view of paratype (U.S.X.M. 106406), a megalospheric form with less 

well-developed biserial stage; 6, top view, showing asymmetrical quadrate section of small forms; 7, basal 

view, showing biserial chambers. 8, Side view of paratype (U.S.X.M. 106404), a small form, having only the 

biserial stage, but with the last chamber showing the earlv development of the quadrate later portion. 

X 95. (p. 14)

9-13. Sagoplecta himatioides Tappan, n. sp. 9, Side view of holotype (U.S.X.M. 106409), showing extensive development of the biserial stage, flattened character and later equitaiit chambers; 10, edge view. 11, Side view of 

paratype (U.S.X.M. 1064lOa), with very oblique sutures. 12, Side view of paratype (U.S.X.M. 106410b), 

with better uniserial development, showing stronglv arched sutures; 13, top view, showing compressed form. 

X 95. (p. 15)

14-16. Sagoplecta incrassata Tappan, n. sp. 14, Side view of paratype (U.S.X.M. 106415), showing long final chamber. 

15, Side view of holotype (U.S.X.M. 106414) showing biserial to uniserial development, and elongate final 

chamber; 16, top view, showing ovate cross-section. X 95. (p. 15)

17-19. Bolivina lathetica Tappan, n. sp. 17, Side view of paratype (U.S.X.M. 106437). 18, Side view of holotype 

(U.S.X.M. 106436), showing biserial tapering test; 19, top view, showing low arched aperture. X 158. (p. 16)

20-22. Spirillina gurgitata Tappan, n. sp. 20, Side view of holotype (U.S.X.M. 106439), a small but complete form. 

21, Side view of larger broken paratype (U.S.X.M. 106440); 22, edge view. X 218. (p. 16)

23-25. Discorbis pristina Tappan, n. sp. 23, Dorsal view of holotype (U.S.X.M. 106441); 24, ventral view; 25, edge 

view. X 158. (p. 16)
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 236 PLATE 5

POLYMORPHINIDAE, BULIMINIDAE, SPIRILLINIDAE, ROTALIIDAE