Globigerina (/ɡlˌbɪəˈrnə/) is a genus of planktonic Foraminifera, in the order of Rotaliida.[1] It has populated the world's oceans since the Middle Jurassic.

Globigerina
Temporal range: Middle Jurassic - Recent.
PSM V44 D483 Globigerina ooze.jpg
Illustration of Globigerina ooze
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Clade: Diaphoretickes
Clade: SAR
Phylum: Retaria
Infraphylum: Foraminifera
Class: Globothalamea
Order: Globigerinida
Superfamily: Globigerinoidea
Family: Globigerinidae
Subfamily: Globigerininae
Genus: Globigerina
d'Orbigny, 1826

Globigerina oozeEdit

Vast areas of the ocean floor are covered with Globigerina ooze, dominated by the foraminiferous shells of Globigerina and other Globigerinina. The name was originally applied to mud collected from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean when planning the location of the first transatlantic telegraph cables and it was mainly composed of the shells of Globigerina bulloides.[2]

DescriptionEdit

Globigerina has a globose, trochospirally enrolled test composed of spherical to ovate but not radially elongate chambers that enlarge rapidly as added, commonly with only three to five in the final whorl. The test (or shell) wall is calcareous, perforate, with cylindrical pores. During life the surface has numerous long slender spines that are broken on dead or fossil shells, the short blunt remnants resulting in a hispid surface. The aperture a high umbilical arch that may be bordered by an imperforate rim or narrow lip. No secondary apertures.

SpeciesEdit

Globigerina includes the following species (extinct species marked with a dagger, †)

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ Globigerina, World Foraminifera Database, accessed 3 December 2018
  2. ^ John Murray and A. F. Renard (1891). Report of the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger During the Years 1873–76 — Report on the Deep-Sea Deposits based on the Specimens Collected during the Voyage. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. p. 213. Retrieved April 5, 2013.