Larger Foraminifera 

from the 

Palau Islands

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 221-B
Larger Foraminifera 

from the 

Palau Islands

By W. STORKS COLE

SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY, 1949, PAGES 21-31

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 221-B

Illustrations and descriptions 

of Foraminifera from Eocene 

and Miocene deposits of the 

Indo-Pacific region

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1950
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 25 cents (paper cover)
CONTENTS

Page

Abstract__________________________________________________________________________________________________ 21

Introduction,_________________________________________________________________________________________________ 21

Description of species.-___--____-____________________________________________________.._-------_---__________-_-. 22

Family Camerinidae.-__-_______-_____-__ _________________________________________-__-------_---__-__-_-_- 22

Family Orbitoididae_____ ___________________________________________________________________________________ 24

Index.______________________________________________________________________________________________---__-- 31

ILLUSTRATIONS

Plates 5, 6. Larger Foraminifera of the Palau Islands. ___________________________-______-__-__-_----- ------------ 27-29

Figure 1. Index map of the Palau Islands._______-_________________________-.__-.--_-_--_-.-----------____________ 21

in

859002 50

LARGER FORAMINIFERA FROM THE PALAU ISLANDS

BY W. STORKS COLE

ABSTRACT

Larger Foraminifera from three localities in the Palau 

Islands are illustrated and discussed. Eocene deposits have been 

recorded previously in these islands, but the occurrence of Miocene deposits, belonging to Tertiary f of the Indo-Pacific scale, 

has not been reported before. Certain of the Miocene larger 

Foraminifera which occur in the Palau Islands appear to be 

specifically the same as certain specimens from the Lau Group, 

Fiji Islands.

INTRODUCTION

In a short article entitled "Limestone of the South Sea 

Islands" Asano 1 discusses the Palau Islands. Unfortunately, most of the text is in Japanese, and therefore 

not available. However, in a summary table which 

gives the ages of the limestones of various islands that 

were under Japanese mandate, it is indicated that the 

limestones of the Palau Islands should be placed in the 

Eocene and the Plio-Pleistocene.

Limestone samples collected in the Palau Islands by 

Harry S. Ladd and Josiah Bridge have been examined 

by means of random thin sections. In two of these 

samples there occur interesting faunas, one of which 

definitely represents the Miocene, Tertiary /, and the 

other is suspected to be in this same stage. Moreover, 

there is a definite relationship in the Miocene species of 

the Palau Islands to species described from the Miocene 

of the Lau Group, Fiji Islands.

In one sample which was examined Foraminifera of 

Eocene age occur, thus substantiating the previous determination by Asano. No samples of the Plio-Pleistocene 

were studied.

Samples from the following localities (fig. 1) have 

been studied in detail:

Station P-Pe-L. Hell's Pocket, Bloody Nose Kidge, 

Peleliu. Collected by Harry S. Ladd, January 1946.

Station PB-3. Large quarry in agglomerate, north 

side of road, about one mile east of Ngatkip, southern 

Babelthuap Island. Collected by Josiah Bridge, April 

1947.

1 Asano, Kiyosi, Limestone of the South Sea Islands under Japanese 

Mandate; Jubilee Publication Commen. 60th Birthday of Prof. H. 

Yabe, vol. 1, p. 546, Sendai, Japan, Yabe Kyoju Kanreki Kinen Kai, 

Tohoku Imperial University, 1939.

Stations PU-1 to PU-7. Along the road from the 

pier to the lighthouse on Ngaremediu, at the eastern 

tip of Urukthapel Island at 100-foot intervals vertically

134'15' 134*45'

8" 00'

7*30'

7*00'

'Angaur

Kayang'el--t!:

('Babelthuapr

,PB;3

 '" N 6an^^a^r9

Koro.r?

'Peleliu

"P-Pe-L

a'oo'

I34'I5'

Nautical Miles

FIGURE 1. Index map of the Palau Islands, showing localities from 

which the specimens were collected.

21
22 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY, 1949

from sea level. Collected by Josiah Bridge and Charles 

G. Johnson, May 1947.

Station PB-3 represents an agglomerate about 14 feet 

thick in which limestone is fairly abundant. This limestone is dense, coffee-colored and sparingly fossilif erous. 

Thin sections show that two species of Pellatispira 

occur, one of which was sufficiently abundant for identification. As the genus Pellatispira is known only from 

the Eocene, the age of this limestone could be 

established.

Examination of numerous random thin sections from 

the limestone from station P-Pe-L shows the presence 

of numerous Foraminifera, mostly of the smaller type. 

Genera which could be recognized are: Amphistegina, 

Operculina, and Cycloclypeus. Certain of the vertical 

sections of Cycloclypeus had a single annulus developed 

on the flange which surrounds the central umbonal area. 

This structure is developed in the subgenus which Tan 2 

named Katacycloclypeus.

The subgenus Katacycloclypeus has a short vertical 

range in the Indo-Pacific. In a summary article on the 

problems of stratigraphy in the Indo-Pacific, Glaessner 8 

states that Katacycloclypeus is restricted to Tertiary / 

1-2. On the basis of this fact the writer informally 

reported the age of the sample from station P-Pe-L as 

Tertiary /. However, the paleontological evidence for 

this report was not particularly impressive.

The thin sections from the samples from stations 

PU-1 to PU-7 were disappointing, as the samples from 

stations 1 to 5 and 7 were devoid of recognizable Foraminifera. In the sections from PU-6 (500 feet above 

sea level) abundant specimens of Lepidocyclina were 

found. Most of these specimens had the Indo-Pacific 

modification of the embryonic apparatus that has been 

termed tryblolepidine. The appearance of these Lepidocyclina confirmed the earlier informal report that Miocene limestones do occur in the Palaus.

Moreover, these specimens could be referred to Lepidocyolina (Nephrolepidina) rutteni lauensis Cole,4 a 

stellate variety of L. rutteni that is one of the index 

species to the so-called / stage of the Indo-Pacific Tertiary. In addition, several specimens referred to Operculina fiartschi and 0. ammonoides occur in association 

with L. rutteni lauensis. One specimen of Cycloclypeus 

and several specimens of an apparently new species of 

Lepidocyclina complete the fauna of larger Foraminifera from the sample.

2 Tan, Sin Hok, On the Genus Cycloclypeus Carpenter, Wetensch. 

Meded. No. 19, Dienst. Mijn. Nederland Indie, p. 39, 1932.

8 Glaessner, M. F., Problems of stratigraphic correlation in the IndoPacific region: Royal Soc. Victoria Proc., vol. 55, n. ser., table facing 

p. 80, 1943.

4 Cole, W. Storrs, Larger Foraminifera of Lau, Fiji: Bernice P. Bishop 

Mus. Bull. 181, p. 290, pi. 27, figs. H, I; pi. 28, fig. A, 1945.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES

Family CAMERINIDAE

Genus OPERCULINA d'Orbigny, 1826

Operculina ammonoides (Gronovius) 5

Plate 5, figures 6, 7

Several oblique horizontal sections and transverse 

sections of evenly lenticular species of Operculina occur. A description of the best horizontal and transverse sections follows:

The height of the test is from 2.5 to 2.8 mm. and 

the thickness through the center is from 1.0 to 1.1 mm.

The test is composed of approximately 4 volutions 

with more than 19 chambers in the final whorl. The 

chambers are rectangular in shape in plan view, with 

the diameter along the volution greater than at right 

angles to the axis of coiling. The chamber walls are 

straight and radial, except near their distal ends, where 

they are slightly recurved.

Station: PU-6.

Age: Miocene, Tertiary /.

Although uncertainty of specific identification must 

exist in dealing with material of this type, these specimens are referred to 0- ammonoides on the basis of 

illustrations and descriptions given by other workers.

Operculina bartschi Cushman

Plate 5, figures 3-5

1921. Operculina lartscM Cushman, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 100,

pp. 376-377, text-fig. 13. 

1935. Operculina lartscM Cushman. Hanzawa, Tohoku Imp.,

Univ., Sci. Rep., ser. 2 (geol.), vol. 18, pp. 22-23, pi. 2,

figs. 1-12. 

1945. Operculina lartschi Cushman. Cole, Bernice P. Bishop

Mus. Bull. 181, pp. 277-278, pi. 12, figs. H-K; pi. 14,

fig. I.

Several oblique median sections and uncentered 

transverse sections of a thin, compressed Operculina 

were observed. The oblique median sections show that 

the surface is ornamented with rows of small pustules 

which have surface diameters of about 40 /*. These 

pustules radiate from the center and occur in the areas 

between the sutures.

The diameter of the specimens would be more than 

2 mm. as the incomplete portions of the sections available have this measurement. The thickness through 

the center would be 0.4 mm. at a minimum and the 

thickness through the flange would be 0.16 mm. at a 

minimum. The chamber walls are evenly and regu5 S. Hanzawa has discussed this species in the Japanese Jour. Geology 

and Geography, vol. 16, pp. 225-232, pis. 15, 16, 1939, and D. D. 

Bannink has given other facts concerning species of Operculina in a 

doctor's dissertation presented to the Faculty of the University of 

Leiden, 1948.
LARGER FORAMINIFERA FROM THE PALAU ISLANDS 23

larly curved for about three-fourths their length, but 

toward their distal ends they are very sharply recurved.

In one-half of a final volution there appear 8 chambers ; therefore it may be assumed that there are about 

16 chambers in the complete final volution.

Station: PU-6.

Age: Miocene, Tertiary /.

These fragmentary sections were compared with 

well-preserved specimens from Lakemba, Lau Group 

and from the Eyukyu-retto. There is agreement between all of these specimens in all features that could 

be investigated.

Genus CYCLOCLYPEUS W. B. Carpenter, 1856 

Cycloclypeus sp.

Plate 5, figure 8

A single vertical section assigned to the genus Cycloclypeus appears in mie of the random thin sections. This 

section, which is nearly centered, has a diameter of 2.6 

mm,, of which the umbonate portion occupies 1.4 mm. 

The thickness through the center is 0.44 mm., and the 

flange has a thickness of 0.2 mm. Small pillars are 

present and have a surface diameter of about 40 p.

Station: PU-6.

Age: Miocene, Tertiary /.

Certain features of this transverse section suggest C. 

(Cycloclypeus) indopacificus terhaari Tan, but positive 

specific identification cannot be made from a single 

transverse section of Cycloclypeus.

Subgenus KATACYCLOCLYPEUS Tan, 1932 

Cycloclypeus (Katacycloclypeus) transiens Tan

Plate 5, figures 9-11

1945. Cycloclypeus (Katacycloclypeus) transiens Tan. Cole, 

Bernice P. Bishop Mus. Bull. 181, p. 283, pi. 20, figs. D-F.

The following description is of a vertical section that 

is not exactly centered. The total diameter is 5.6 mm., 

of which 1.8 mm. occur in the central, inflated portion. 

The thickness through the center is 0.8 mm. The depressed areas between the central portion and the annulus have a width of 0.5 mm. and a thickness of 0.16 

mm. The annulus has a width of 0.6 mm. and a thickness of 0.32 mm. Beyond the annulus is a flange, the 

width of which is 0.6 mm. and the thickness 0.14 mm. 

Pillars are not present.

Another vertical section is virtually centered. The 

total diameter is 5.0 mm. The central portion of the test 

has a diameter of 2.4 mm. and a thickness of 0.8 mm. 

The depressed areas between the central portion and the 

annulus have a thickness of about 0.32 mm. The annulus on one side of the test has a thickness of 0.5 mm. 

and a width of 0.9 mm. On the other side of the test the

annulus has a thickness of 0.5 mm. and a width of 1.2 

mm. Pillars are present as darker, wedge-shaped masses 

penetrating to the equatorial layer. These pillars have 

a surface diameter of 80 to 120 p..

Station: P-Pe-L.

Age: Miocene, Tertiary /.

Three specific names have been proposed for species 

of the subgenus Katacycloclypeus that possess one annulus, namely, K. martini van der Vlerk, K. transiens 

Tan and K. posttransiens Tan. The difference between 

K. transiens and K. posttransiens is in the possession or 

lack of pillars. This is not a valid specific criterion, 

therefore two fundamental species may be recognized, 

K. martini and K. transiens.

Van der Vlerk 6 illustrated K. martini, but Tan 7 proposed the specific names K. transiens and K. posttranssiens in a table without either description or illustration. 

Miss Caudri 8 gave notes and drawings of the equatorial 

sections of K. martini and K. transiens. Cole 9 in the 

study of larger Foraminifera from Lau Group, Fiji 

Islands, presented external views and equatorial sections of specimens identified as K. martini and K. 

transiens.

As the random thin sections of the material from the 

Palau Islands were such that oriented equatorial sections could not be obtained it became necessary to investigate the vertical sections of K. transiens and K. 

martini.

Equatorial sections demonstrate that the embryonic 

apparatus of K. martini is large, whereas that of K. 

transiens is small. Several of the vertical sections in 

the random sections of the Palau material pass near 

the center of the test, but the embryonic apparatus 

does not show, therefore it was concluded that the 

species from the Palau Islands possesses a small embryonic apparatus.

A vertical section was made from one of the specimens previously identified as K. transiens from Vanua 

Mbalavu, in the Lau group. A description of this section follows:

The semidiameter is 2.3 mm., and the entire diameter 

would be about 4.6 mm. The central area has a diameter 

of 2.6 mm. and a thickness of 1.0 mm. The annulus has 

a thickness of 0.5 mm., and the depression between the 

annulus and the central area has a thickness of 0.24 mm. 

Pillars are apparently not present.

«Van der Vlerk, I. M., Een nieuwe Cycloclypeussoort van OostBorneo: Geol. Reichs-Mus. Samml., Leiden, vol. 10, pp. 137, 138, pi. 1, 

figs. 1-4; pi. 2, figs. 3, 4, 1923.

? Tan, Sin Hok, op cit; Part I: Table 1,1932.

8 Caudri, B., De Foraminiferen-Fauna van eenige Gycloclypeushoudende Geesteenten van Java : Geol.-Mijn. genootschap Nederland en 

Kolonien, Verb., Geol. Serie vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 192, 193, figs. 4, 5, 6, 14, 

1932.

8 Cole, W. Storrs, op. cit., p. 283, pi. 20, figs. D-F, I, J, 1945.
24 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY, 1949

It will be observed from this description and the 

illustrations given that there is very close agreement 

between the identified specimen from Vanua Mbalavu 

and the specimens from the Palau Islands. Therefore, 

these specimens are tentatively referred to this species.

Genus PELLATISPIRA Boussac, 1906 

Pellatispira rutteni Umbgrove

Plate 5, figures 1, 2

1928. Pellatispira rutteni Umbgrove, Wetensch. Meded. No. 10,

pp. 20-21, figs. 57-61. 

1932. Pellatispira rutteni Umbgrove. Whipple, Bernice P. Bishop

Mus. Bull. 96, p. 81, pi. 21, fig. 6. 

1947. Pellatispira reticularis Hanzawa, Japanese Jour. Geology

and Geography, vol. 20, pp. 59-60, pi. 14, figs. 1-3; pi. 15,

fig. 1.

From Nakanai, New Britain, Hanzawa has described 

recently Pellatispira reticularis. He states that this 

same species occurs in "the Eocene of Babeldaob, the 

Palao Island," in lenticular masses of limestone in an 

andesitic agglomerate. Undoubtedly, this is the same 

form that occurs in the present collection. However, 

the features observed in the specimens in this collection 

as well as the illustrations and description given by 

Hanzawa demonstrate that these specimens should be 

referred to P. rutteni. In every feature there is absolute 

similarity.

The reticulate mesh, which Hanzawa emphasizes as 

the most important feature of this species, is to be expected with forms that have the internal structure of 

this species. The depressions are the result of the coarse 

vertical canals.

Station: PB-3.

Age: Eocene, Tertiary a and &.

There are a few very incomplete sections of another 

species of Pellatispira in this material. These sections 

are most suggestive of P. crassicolumnata Umbgrove, 

but positive identification cannot be made at the present 

time.

Family OKBITOIDIDAE

Genus LEPIDOCYCLINA Giimbel, 1868

Subgenus NEPHKOLEPIDINA H. Douville", 1911

Lepidocyclina (Nephrolepidina) rutteni lauensis Cole

Plate 5, figure 13; plate 6, figures 1-13

1945. Lepidocyclina rutteni lauensis Cole, Bernice P. Bishop 

Mus. Bull. 181, p. 290, pi. 27, figs. H. J; pi. 28, fig. A.

The external aspects of the specimens could not be 

determined, as all the specimens available are in a dense 

limestone matrix and are known only in thin section. 

However, the thin sections indicate that individuals 

would be evenly convex in the umbonal area, which

would be covered by rather large papillae. Some specimens, if not all, would have short arms or rays projecting 

from the test. The following measurements give the 

diameter and thickness from accidental, but centered, 

vertical sections:

Measurements of sections of specimens of Lepidocyclina 

(Nephrolepidina) rutteni lawensis Cole

Specimen

!____

2____

3 _

4 ....

(miUi-er 

meters)

3.34+

4.7+

5. 3 +

13.4

Thickness (millimeters)

1. 1

1. 1

1.48

1.2

Remarks

Edges slightly broken; no arms showing.

Edges very slightly broken; suggestion

of arm development on one side.

Edges slightly broken; no arms showing.

Broken specimen; arm development

shown clearly, projecting 1.4 mm.

beyond the umbonate portion of the

test.

i Semidiameter.

The embryonic chambers appear in plan view in 

three oblique equatorial sections and are of trybliolepidine type. The most clearly exposed embryonic 

chambers show a larger, thick-walled chamber whose 

internal diameters are 260 by 320 p, completely surrounding a smaller, thin-walled inner chamber with 

internal diameters of 180 by 180 p. The second oblique 

equatorial section shows only a portion of the embryonic chambers. The side on which the two embryonic chambers are attached is not exposed so that 

only the inner edge of the second chamber is exposed. 

The third section exposes only a portion of the larger 

chamber.

Of the vertical sections available, six pass through 

the embryonic chambers. One of these is centered, the 

other five pass through the embryonic chambers at the 

side. The centered embryonic chambers have an internal length of 500 //, and a height of 240 ju. The outer 

wall has a thickness of 30 //,. Two vertical walls representing the inner chamber divide the large chamber into 

three parts. These vertical walls, with a thickness of 

about 10 /A, pass completely across the larger chamber. 

The distance between the walls is 190 /*. A second section shows a portion of the embryonic chambers in vertical view. These chambers have an internal length of 

280 //, and an internal height of 180 //,. The thickness 

of the outer wall is 35 /A. A single thin partition representing one wall of the inner chamber passes across the 

larger chamber. A third section is similar to the second 

one in that only one partition of the inner chamber 

shows. The internal length of the larger chamber is 

340 j«, and the internal height is 200 p. The thickness of 

the bounding wall is 37 p. A fourth section shows only 

the larger chamber with an internal length of 220 /A and
LARGER FORAMINIFERA FROM THE PALAU ISLANDS 25

an internal height of 140 /x. The thickness of the bounding wall is about 30 /x.

The equatorial chambers near the center are hexagonal in shape with radial and tangential diameters of 

about 40 /A. Toward the periphery of the test the equatorial chambers become elongate-spatulate in shape, 

with radial diameters of about 55 /x.

In vertical septions the equatorial chambers have 

a height near the center of about 60 /x including the 

thickness of the floors and roofs, and at the periphery 

a height of about 100 /x. In some vertical sections the 

height of the equatorial chambers becomes greatly expanded toward the periphery of the test. The specimen that demonstrates this best has an equatorial layer 

with a height of 120 /x at a distance of 1.6 mm. from the 

embryonic chambers; at a distance of 2 mm. the height 

is 200 /x; and at a distance of 3.2 mm., which is the 

periphery of the test, the height is 300 /*,. The expanded zone of equatorial chambers has a width of 1.4 

mm. In the peripheral portion of this zone the equatorial chambers are not covered by lateral chambers. 

This zone of expanded equatorial chambers is interpreted as occurring in a vertical section which passes 

through one of the projecting peripheral arms.

The specimen with the centered embryonic chambers 

has a thickness of 1.48 mm. In this specimen there are

8 lateral chambers to a tier on each side of the embryonic 

chambers. Small, appressed lateral chambers occur 

in two or three layers directly over the embryonic 

apparatus. The succeeding lateral chambers are open 

with floors and roofs which are slightly curved. The 

lateral chambers in the central area overlap from one 

tier to the other, but toward the peripheral zone of the 

test they occur in rather regular tiers. Normal lateral 

chambers toward the exterior of the test and over the 

embryonic apparatus have a length of 180 to 300 /x, a 

height of 55 /t and floors and roofs with a thickness of 

about 10 /x. 

A second specimen with a thickness of 1.16 mm. has

9 lateral chambers to a tier on each side of the embryonic apparatus, whereas another specimen with a thickness of 1.12 mm. has 10 lateral chambers to a tier.

Pillars with a surface diameter of 100 to 200 p are 

well developed in the central portion of the test and 

occur irregularly in the outer portions of the test. 

Normal pillars are without taper until they approach 

the zone of appressed lateral chambers which lie directly over the equatorial layer. At this place the pillars taper sharply to a point resting on the covering 

wall of the embryonic chambers, or the floors and roofs 

of the equatorial chambers.

Station: PU-6; abundant.

Age: Miocene, Tertiary /.

859002 50 2

These specimens are very similar to radiate specimens 

from Vanua Mbalavu, Lau Group, Fiji Islands. The 

greatest difference occurs in the thickness of the outer 

wall of the embryonic chambers. In the specimens 

from Vanua Mbalavu the embryonic chambers have a 

very thick outer wall, whereas in the specimens in the 

present collection they have a much thinner wall. It is 

extremely doubtful if much importance should be 

attached to this fact, as slightly different ecological 

conditions might produce such, an effect.

At Vanua Mbalavu, a typical L. rutteni occurs in association with the variety L. lauensis. The internal features of L. rutteni and this variety are similar. The 

same association may occur in the present collection, 

but as many of the specimens appear to have arms, they 

are all referred to the variety.

Several of the sections in the present collection are 

similar to Lepidocyclina pilifera Scheffen,10 which 

species is placed by Miss Caudri u in the synonymy of 

L. rutteni van der Vlerk.

Glaessner 12 gives the range of L. rutteni as Tertiary 

/ 3. At Vanua Mbalavu, in the Lau Group this variety occurs with Katacycloclypeus annulatus Martin. 

Glaessner places the beds with Katacycloclypeus in Tertiary / 1-2.

Lepidocyclina (Nephrolepidina) palauensis Cole, n. sp.

Plate 5, figures 12, 13

This species is known in the present collection from 

one slightly oblique vertical section and a partial equatorial section that exposes the embryonic chambers and 

a few of the equatorial chambers.

Externally, there would be a small, central, inflated 

umbo surrounded by a wide, flat brim. In the available 

vertical section the umbonate portion has a diameter of 

1.6 mm. and the rim has a width of about 1.6 mm. The 

diameter of the specimen is 5 mm. The thickness 

through the center is 0.94 mm. The rim has a thickness 

of about 0.2 mm.

The embryonic chambers exposed in this vertical section have an internal length of 420 p and a height of 

260 /A. The outer wall of the embryonic chambers has a 

thickness of 40 p. A single, slightly curved partition 

across the larger chamber represents the second chamber.

The thickness of the equatorial layer could not be 

determined exactly because the section is slightly 

oblique. However, it has an approximate thickness of

10 Scheffen, W., Ostindische Lepidocyclinen: Wetensch. Meded. No. 

21, pp. 29, 30, pi. 4, figs. 2, 3, 1932.

11 Caudri, B., Lepidocyclinen von Java: Geol. Mijnb. genootschap 

Nederland en Kolenien, Verb. vol. 12, pp. 218-221, figs. 61-65. 1939.

12 Glaessner, M. F., op. cit..
26 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY, 1949

about 100 /* near the center of the test and expands to a 

thickness of about 220 //, at the periphery. These measurements include the roof and floor.

For a distance of about 0.8 mm. from the outer edge 

of the test the equatorial chambers are not covered by 

lateral chambers. It is in this zone that the equatorial 

chambers have their greatest thickness.

There are about 8 lateral chambers to a tier on each 

side of the embryonic chambers. These lateral chambers are arranged in rather regular tiers, but some overlap from one tier into the next. The chamber cavities 

are open but low. Normal lateral chambers at the center 

and on the outside have a length of 100 /*, a height of 

20 //,, and floors and roofs with a thickness of 20 /*.

The walls between the tiers of lateral chambers are 

thickened, a condition which produces dark, pillar-like 

areas, but true pillars were not observed. If such occur, 

they are very thin.

In the same random thin section a partial equatorial 

section is thought to represent the same species as the 

vertical section that has been described. These embryonic chambers are nephrolepidine in type. The 

larger chamber has a diameter of 520 /* across the chamber along a line parallel to one through the points of 

juncture of the wall of the inner chamber. At right 

angles to this line the larger chamber has a diameter of 

440 ju. The inner chamber has a diameter of 360 /u, 

along a line connecting the points of juncture of this 

chamber to the larger chamber and a diameter of 240 /* 

at right angles to this line. The wall of the larger chamber has a thickness of about 40 /*, whereas the curved 

wall of the inner chamber has a thickness of about 18 /*,.

Equatorial chambers are seen only adjacent to the

embryonic chambers. These chambers are hexagonal 

and tangentially elongate. The tangential diameter is 

about 80 n and the radial diameter is about 40 /*.

Station: PU-6.

Age: Miocene, Tertiary /.

Of the species of Lepidocyclina which have been described from Tertiary /, a number have a small, inflated 

umbonal area demarked sharply from a wide, flat, thin 

brim. The important species belonging to this group 

are: L. timbata H. Douville,13 L. radiata Martin (as 

identified by Whipple 14 ), L. gerthi Caudri,15 and L. 

oneataensis Cole.16 Moreover, a specimen figured by 

Yabe and Hanzawa 17 under the name L. leytensis appears to belong to this group.

Of these species, L. limbata and L. gerthi are incompletely described, as illustrations and measurements of 

vertical sections have not been given.

Although it is entirely possible that the specimens 

in the present collection may represent one of the species already described, it is given a new name for the 

present because of the low, appressed lateral chambers, 

the relatively small umbo, and the small thickness 

through the inflated portion of the test.

13 Douville, H., Les Foraminif feres des couches de Rembang: Geol. 

Reichs-Mus. Samml., Leiden, vol. 10, pp. 25, 26, pi. 4, figs. 8, 9, 1916.

14 Whipple, G. L., Larger Foraminifera from Vitilevu, Fiji: Bernice P. 

Bishop Mus. Bull. 119, pp. 148, 149, pi. 19, figs. 4, 5, 1934.

w Caudri, B., Lepidocyclinen von Java: Geol.-Mijnb. genoot. Nederland en Kolenien, Verb. vol. 12, pp. 221-223, figs. 66, 67.

18 Cole, W. Storrs, Larger Foraminifera of Lau, Fiji: Bernice P. 

Bishop Mus. Bull. 181, p. 292, pi. 26, figs. A-J ; pi. 28, fig. H, 1945.

17 Yabe, H. and Hanzawa, S., Notes on some Tertiary foraminiferous 

rocks from the Philippines: Tohoku Imp. Univ., Sci. Repts., ser. 2 

(geol.), pp. 107-108, pi. 27, fig. 14 (not pi. 15, figs. 8, 9; pi. 26, figs. 11, 

12 ; pi. 27, figs. 11-13, 15), 1925.
PLATES

27
PLATE 5

Figures 1, 2. Pellatispira rutteni TJmbgrove.

1. Transverse section, X 20; station' PB-3.

2. Median section, X 20; station PB-3. 

3-5. Operculina bartschi Cushman.

3. 4. Portions of oblique median sections which show surface ornamentation and the chambers of the final volution, 

X 20, station PU-6.

5. Transverse section, not centered, X 20; station PU-6. 

6, 7. Operculina ammonoides (Gronovius).

6. Transverse section, nearly centered, X 20; station PU-6.

7. Oblique median section, X 20; station PU-6. 

8. Cycloclypeus sp.

8. Transverse section, nearly centered, X 20; station PU-6. 

9-11. Cycloclypeus (Katacycloclypeus) transient Tan.

9. Oriented transverse section introduced for comparison, X 20; station 43, Vanua Mbalavu, Lau Group, Fiji Islands.

10. Transverse section, not centered, X 12.5; station PPe-L.

11. Transverse section, nearly centered, X 20; station PPe-L. 

12-13. Lepidocyclina (Nephrolepidina) palauensis Cole, n. sp.

12. Embryonic chambers and a small portion of the equatorial chambers, X 40; station PU-6.

13. Vertical section (center) to show embryonic chambers and lateral chambers, X 20; station PU-6; holotype. 

(NOTE. The transverse section (left) represents L. rutteni lauensis.)
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 221 PLATE 5

11. 7 13 

LARGER FORAMIMFERA OF THE PALAU ISLANDS

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

PROFESSIONAL PAPER 221 PLATE 6

7 8 

LARGER FORAMIMFERA OF THE PALAL ISLANDS

PLATE 6

Figures 1-13. Lepidocyclina (Nephrokpidina) rutteni lauensis Cole.

1. Strongly oblique median section to illustrate the embryonic chambers, X 20; station PU-6.

2. Embryonic chambers, illustrated in figure 1, enlarged, X 40; station PU-6.

3. Equatorial chambers and a portion of the lateral chambers to illustrate their shape and the distribution of the 

pillars, X 40; station PU-6.

4. Strongly oblique median section which shows the equatorial chambers, X 40; station PU-6.

5. Vertical section to illustrate the prolongation of the equatorial layer in a ray, X 20; station PU-6. 

6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Vertical sections of various sizes of individuals, X 20; station PU-6.

11. Portion of a vertical section, not centered, to show the character of a ray, X 20; station PU-6.

12. Portion of an equatorial section of a topotype specimen introduced for comparison, X 40; station 62, Vanua 

Mbalavu, Lau group, Fiji Islands.

13. Vertical section of a topotype specimen introduced for comparison, X 20; station 62, Vanua Mbalavu, Lau Group, 

Fiji Islands. (Note. The transverse section (right), represents L. (Nephrolepidina) palauensis Cole, n. sp.)

INDEX

Page 

ammonoides, Operculina_______________________________ 22, pi. 5

Amphistegina_________ _______________________ 22

annulatus, Katacycloclypeus_______________________ 25

Babelthuap Island, samples from___________________ 21, 24 

lartschi, Operculina________________________ 22-23, pi. 5

crassicolumnata, Pellatispira________________________ 24

Cycloclypeus_____________________ ________ 22, 23-24, pi. 5

(Cycloclypeus) indopacificus terhaari___________________ 23

(Katycycloclypeus) transiens___________________ 23-24, pi. 5

Fiji Islands____________________________________ 21, 25 

gerthi, Lepidocyclina_____________________________________ 26

Hanzawa, S., quoted__ ________________________ 24 

indopacificus terhaari, Cycloclypeus (Cycloclypeus) __________ 23

Katacycloclypeus___________________________________ 22, 23-24, 25

annulatus_____ ____________________ 25

martini ____ ___ ___________,__ _________ 23 

posttransiens________________,__________________ 23

transiens______ __ ______________________ 23, pi. 5

lauensis, Lepidocyclina______________________ _________ 25

Lepidocyclina (Nephrolepidina) rutteni________ 22, 24-25, pi. 5, 6

Lepidocyclina-_____________________ 22, 24-26, pis. 5, 6

gertJii___________________________________ 26 

lauensis-________ __________________________ 25

leytensis_____________________________________________ 26

limbata______________________________________________ 26

(Nephrolepidina) palauensis_____._______ __ 25 26, pi. 5

(Nephrolepidina) rutteni lauensis- ___________ 22, 24-25, pi. 5, 6

oneatensis________________ ________________ 26

Lepidocyclina Continued.

pilifcra-___ .. 25 

radiata_______ _ _ 26

rutteni________________________ 22, 25 

leytensis., Lepidocyclina_______ ____ 26

limbata, Lepidocyclina_____ 26

martini, Katacycloclypeus- 23

oneataensis, Lepidocyclina____________ __ __ 26 

Operculina__________ __ ._-_ - 22

ammonoides--_ ____.. 22, pi. 5

bartschi_________________________________ 22-23, pi. 5

palauensis, Lepidocyclina (Nephrolepidina) ____ 25-26, pi. 5

Palau Islands, localities on 21-22

map_________ _ _ _ 21

Peleliu Island, samples from 21,23

Pellatispira_______________________ 22, 24, pi. 5

crassicolumnata _ ____ 24

reticularis-^-_____ _ __ 24

rutteni___________________ _______ ___ 24, pi. 5

pilifera, Lepidocyclina____ ____ 25

posttransiens, Katacycloclypeus--________ _ 23

radiata, Lepidocyclina______ _____ 26

reticularis, Pellatispira___ _____ 24

rutteni, Lepidocyclina_____________ __ 22, 25 

Pellatispira_________________________ _ 24, pi. 5

rutteni lauensis, Lepidocyclina (Nephrolepidina) __ 22, 24-25, pi. 5, 6

terhaari, Cycloclypeus (Cycloclypeus) indopacificus_ ___ 23

transiens, Cycloclypeus (Katycycloclypeus)__ _ 23 24, pi. 5

Katacycloclypeus_ 23, pi. 5

Urukthapel Island, samples from_______________ 21-23, 24-26 

Vanua Mbalavu, Foraminafera specimens from 23, 24, 25

31