14 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I48 



diplostoma have been interpreted in so many different ways that they 

 include a mixed bag of specimens ranging in age from Lower Tertiary 

 to Recent. Clarification of these species is needed before the form 

 designated here as Globigerina aft. G. quinqueloba can be definitely 

 assigned taxonomically. 



Distribution. — This species appears to be relatively scarce in the 

 summer (a maximum of 4 percent at station G) but common or 

 abundant at other times of the year. A maximum frequency of 57 

 percent was recorded at winter station D. 



GLOBIGERINA INFLATA d'Orbigny 

 Plate 4, figures 1-3 



Globigerina inflata d'Orbigny, 1839, in Barker-Webb and Berthelot, Hist. Nat. 

 lies Canaries, vol. 2, pt. 2, Foraminiferes, p. 134, pi. 2, figs. 7-9. — Bradshaw, 

 1959, Contr. Cushman Found. Foram. Res., vol. 10, pt. 2, p. 36, pi. 6, 

 figs. 16-18.— Be, 1959, Micropaleontol., vol. 5, No. 1, pi. 1, figs. 12-14. 



Globorotalia inflata (d'Orbigny) Parker, 1962, Micropaleontol., vol. 8, No. 2, 

 p. 236, pi. 5, figs. 6-9. 



This is an interesting species as it bridges the morphologic gap 

 between Globigerina and Globorotalia. Suites of specimens range 

 from a globigerine form with highly inflated chambers, a rounded 

 periphery and a large umbilical aperture to a globorotalid form with 

 compressed chambers, an angular periphery and a relatively low, 

 elongate, extra-umbilical aperture. The surface of the wall is also 

 variable, ranging from smooth to rough, with blunt spines. Radiating 

 spines, however, are absent. 



Since this species is transitional between Globigerina and 

 Globorotalia, the generic assignment becomes somewhat arbitrary. 

 The species has been referred to both genera, l)ut most commonly to 

 Globigerina. In the samples studied the globigerine form appears to 

 be dominant, and the species has a distribution like that of the 

 Globigerina species. 



The angular, globorotalid form of Globigerina inflata closely ap- 

 proaches Globorotalia punctidata, which is distinguishable by its 

 lower, slitlike aperture and its sharper, more angular periphery. These 

 characters, however, are variable and end forms are sometimes dif- 

 ficult to distinguish. 



Distribution. — Globigerina inflata is common in the shelf and slope 

 waters but apparently is not one of the dominant temperate species. 

 The highest frequency recorded v.'as Z^ percent, at fall station 4. In 



