Larger miliolids of the Late Cretaceous and Paleogene seen through space and time

Abstract

Spatial and temporal occurrences of the larger (complex) miliolids are discussed to give more light on biostratigraphy and paleobiogeographic provinces distribution. Seven genera and 47 species from the Late Cretaceous to Oligocene inhabited shallow marine settings in the Indo-Pacific, Tethyan and Caribbean regions. Of all genera only four (Idalina, Periloculina, Pseudolacazina, Lacazina) widespread throughout Tethys in the Late Cretaceous and Paleogene. Single occurrence of Lacazina was recorded further to east (Moluccas). By now the Late Cretaceous genus Adrahentina is known only from the Spain. The newcomer’s Eocene genera were Fabularia and Lacazinella. Fabularia reached high diversity in species term in the Central and Western Tethys and occured as unique genus in Caribbean realm, too. Conversely, during the same period, Lacazinella spread over the Southern border of Neo-Tethys reaching New Guinea. On the Adriatic - Dinaric Carbonate Platform, larger miliolids occurred from the Late Cretaceous to Cuisian, having the same biostratigraphically trends and distribution as contemporaneous larger miliolids from the Tethys.