R. Shires et al., A NEW LARGE AGGLUTINATED FORAMINIFER (ARBORAMMINIDAE N-FAM) FROM AN OLIGOTROPHIC SITE IN THE ABYSSAL NORTHEAST ATLANTIC, Journal of foraminiferal research, 24(3), 1994, pp. 149-157
A new, unusual agglutinated foraminifer, Arborammina hilaryae gen. sp.
nov., is described from an abyssal (4950m) site on the Madeira Abyssa
l Plain and assigned to a new family. This large (1.5-2 cm long) foram
inifer consists of a basal swelling buried within the sediment, and an
erect stem which projects up into the water and divides distally into
a semi-circular crown of branching arms. There is no obvious test lum
en, instead the protoplasm probably occupies globigerinacean tests inc
orporated within the stem and basal swelling. In addition, extensive o
rganic, possibly protoplasmic, sheets and strings ramify throughout an
d cover the surface of the test. The occurrence of a large, arborescen
t foraminifer at the relatively oligotrophic abyssal site is notable.
Its external morphology suggests that A. hilaryae is a suspension feed
er, and possibly an osmotroph.