Taxonomic review of living planktonic foraminifera

Abstract. Applications of fossil shells planktonic foraminifera to decipher past environmental change and plankton evolution require a robust operational taxonomy. In this respect, extant provide an opportunity for benchmarking the dominantly morphological species concepts classification group by considering ecological, physiological genetic characters. Although basic framework taxonomy has been stable half century, many details have changed, not least in light evidence. contribution, we review current living foraminifera, presenting comprehensive standard that emerged from meetings consultations SCOR/IGBP Working Group 138 “Planktonic ocean changes”. We present annotated list 50 subspecies recognized among evaluate their generic suprageneric classification. As result, recommend replacing commonly used names Globorotalia menardii G. cultrata theyeri eastropacia, recognize Globorotaloides oveyi as neglected but valid species, propose transferring three previously assigned Tenuitella into separate genus, Tenuitellita. status types designate lectotypes Globoturborotalita rubescens Globigerinita uvula. further synonyms other applied outline reasons exclusion. Finally, recommendations on how presented scheme should be benefit producing replicable interoperable census counts.