NO. I FORAMINIFERA IN LONG ISLAND SOUND BUZAS 59 



Elphidium incertum (Williamson) and variants, Parker, Bull. Mus. Comp. 



Zool., vol. 106, No. 10, p. 448, pi. 3, figs. 14, 16, 17 ; pi. 4, figs. 1, 2, 1952. 

 Elphidium clavatum Cushman, emend. Loeblich and Tappan, Smithsonian Misc. 



Coll., vol. 121, No. 7, pp. 98-99, pi. 19, figs. 8-10, 1953. 



The forms included under this species exhibit a very wide range of 

 variation. Adult specimens have 8 to 1 1 chambers in the final whorl. 

 Individuals vary in color and transparency from brown translucent to 

 white opaque. All specimens have short retral processes, but their 

 number and arrangement vary. The typical E. clavatum form (brown 

 translucent) has several umbilical bosses which sometimes extend 

 part way up the sutures or may form a single umbonal mass. White 

 opaque individuals often have several distinct umbilical bosses which 

 are sometimes fused by the addition of shell material so that only 

 irregular slits appear in the umbilical region. Examination of many 

 specimens indicates that the range of variation is in all respects 

 continuous. Moreover, when the CaC0 3 of the test is dissolved, all 

 the specimens examined showed a thick brown organic inner lining 

 which is not found in any of the other species in this area. 



Cushman (1930) originally described this species as a variety of 

 E. incertum (Williamson). Loeblich and Tappan (1953) raised the 

 variety to specific rank and discussed its relation to E. incertum. 

 They found on slides in the U. S. National Museum referred to E. 

 incertum a mixture of several species of Elphidium, none of which 

 matched Williamson's original figure. The hypotypes of E. clavatum 

 deposited at the U. S. National Museum by Loeblich and Tappan 

 (1953) are identical with the brown translucent form of E. clava- 

 tum described above. White opaque individuals with retral proc- 

 esses and irregular sutures and/or umbonal bosses have been in the 

 past and are still referred by various workers to E. incertum. Parker 

 (1952b) recognized that the variation in morphology between the 

 typical E. clavatum and what has been referred to as E. incertum is 

 continuous. She chose, however, to call the species E. incertum 

 (Williamson) and variants. My views are similar to hers, but I 

 believe it is best to refer to this species as E. clavatum because none 

 of the morphological types so frequently referred to E. incertum 

 matches Williamson's original figure. 



This species is most abundant in L.I.S. It occurs in all areas, but 

 is far more abundant at depths of less than 15 m. In shallow waters 

 this species comprises about 90 percent of the total population, 

 whereas in the central part of L.I.S. it makes up about 20-35 percent 

 of the total population. In the shallow areas the living population 

 is usually 5-10 percent smaller than the total population, but in the 

 central area it is often 20 percent smaller. 



