ON THE FORAMINIFERAL GENERA SCYTHIOLINA AND HISTEROLINA (NEAGU, 2000)

The genera Scythiolina and Histerolina described from the lowermost Cretaceous of Dobrogea (Romania) have very similar morphological and structural characteristics. The extremely rich population from which the species of the two genera were described presents a morphological continuum of conical, ellipto-conical, to slightly flabelliform forms. The other structural characteristics (e.g., presence of beams and sporadic rafters in the late ontogenetic stage) are practically identical. This leads me to infer that we are dealing with a single genus, Scythiolina having priority. In addition, detailed observations in thin sections of the original material have shown that the test wall has a microgranular structure and not finely canaliculate (‚pseudokeriothecal’) as specified in the original description. As such, an emended diagnosis for the genus Scythiolina is presented, and for the type species, Scythiolina flabelii.