TAXONOMIC DESCRIPTION OF SOME MEMBERS OF GENUS QUINQUELOCULINA FROM THE DEEP OFFSHORE WESTERN, NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA

Abstract

An attempt is made to give a detailed systematic taxonomic account of benthic foraminifera from the Niger Delta out of the specimens recovered from the studied lithologic samples analysed. A total of 60 composited ditch cutting samples were processed and analysed for their lithologic and microfauna contents from Mar-1 well offshore the western Niger Delta to determine age, biozones, and environment of deposition. A total of 126 specimens of foraminifera were recovered from the ditch cutting samples with a detailed taxonomic description of 26 specimens from the genus Quinqueloculina was carried out. Mar-1 well section studied ranged from depth interval 1600-8150 ft (488-2484 m) which belongs to the Agbada Formation, the section varies from intercalations of shaly sandstone / sandy shale to sandstone, and the lithologic section coarsens upward. The Holotype of the genus of benthic foraminifera - Quinqueloculina d'Orbigny 1826, comprising 5 species was identified, and described in detail from this site, these include: Quinqueloculina alata d'Orbigny 1826, Quinqueloculina costata Natland, 1938, Quinqueloculina seminulum Linné, 1758, Quinqueloculina stelligera Linné, 1758, Spiroloculina antilarum d'Orbigny 1826. The result indicated that the taxonomic changes in test shapes are probably due to responses to environmental stress and pollution as displayed by the taxon -miliolids