PALEOZOIC FORAMINIFERA: CURRENT STATE OF THE CLASSIFICATION AND PERSPECTIVES

An updated classification of Paleozoic foraminifera is proposed, consisting of three classes. Calcareous Paleozoic foraminifera are mainly included in the class Fusulinata but also represented in the classes Miliolata and Nodosariata. The current classification includes in the Fusulinata: 2 subclasses, 5 orders, 25 superfamilies, 65 families, 51 subfamilies, 572 genera, 14 subgenera, in the Miliolata: 1 order, 2 suborders, 2 superfamilies, 8 families, 9 subfamilies, 89 genera, and in the Nodosariata: 1 order, 2 superfamilies, 10 families, 2 subfamilies, 56 genera. Three other classes remain elusive: Allogromiata, Astrorhizata, and Textulariata. Four new replacement names are introduced: Leveniranella pro Iranella Leven in Leven and Vaziri Mohaddam, 2004, Tianshanellites pro Triticites (Tianshanella) Da in Da & Sun, 1983, Gublerites pro Gublerina Minato & Honjo, 1959 and Qinglongella pro Qinglongia Zhang & Dong in Xiao et al., 1986. The family Globoendothyridae is formally described as new.