Lower Carnian foraminifers from the type locality of the Calcare del Predil (Raibl Group, northeastern Italy)

Foraminiferal content from the type section of the Calcare del Predil, Earl y Carnian in age, is here firstly reported. Dolomites, dololimestones and b lackish limestones alternate black shales, marls and marry limestones; in a ddition turbiditic deposits and debris flow consisting of calcirudites and thin to coarse calcarenites occur in the stratigraphical unit. The bottom o f the Rio der Lago Formation overlying the Calcare der Predil, was also inv estigated from a micropaleontological point of view. Nineteen taxa were cla ssified; they are mainly represented by Aulotortinae Zaninetti, Lamelliconi nae Zaninetti et al., Triadodiscinae Zaninetti, Turriglomininae Zaninetti a nd Ophthalmidiidae Wiesner. Furthermore, some Ammodiscidae Reuss, "Trochamm inidae" Schwager, Piallinidae Rettori & Zaninetti, Duostominidae Brotzen an d are Lagenina Delage & Herouard have been recorded. Undetermined encrustin g foraminifers also occur. Nine taxa are in common with the lowermost pan: of the Rio del Lago Formation. The specimens referable to the superfamily I nvolutinacea Butschli are dominant and represent the 40% of the finely grai ned laminas inside the black limestones. The turriglominas occurring in the muddy lithotypes pertain to the morphogroup which is considered as typical of basinal environment. The occurrence almost constant in the micritic lim estones of the ophthalmidiid Gsolbergella spiroloculiformis (Oravecz-Scheff er) (few specimens) leed to suggest this species as inhabitant basinal envi ronment also. Two Julic species of the Austriacum zone are firstly reported from the Aon zone (Cordevolian Auct.). The suprageneric position of the ge nus Prorakusia di Bari & Laghi is also discussed.