CALCAREOUS ALGAE OF THE MIDDLE EAST 69 



Pseudovermiporella was described by me in some detail (Elliott 1958b) as a Permian 

 problematicum, and an algal interpretation given of its structure. Kochansky & 

 Herak (i960), in discussing Permian Vermiporella spp., agree as to the algal nature of 

 Pseudovermiporella, but consider that it is not worthy of generic distinction from 

 Vermiporella, and that the details described should be considered a " contribution 

 to the knowledge of the genus Vermiporella ". Henbest (1963) regards Pseudo- 

 vermiporella as a foraminifer : "A specialized, sessile form of Permian Cornu- 

 spirinae " whose originally aragonitic test has undergone a distinctive diagenetic 

 change. 



These three views depend on the interpretations made of the structure and 

 preservation of a very distinctive microfossil. 



My account (Elliott 1958b : 420) briefly discussed and discounted the possible 

 interpretations of Pseudovermiporella as a foraminifer, bryozoan, serpulid, dasyclad 

 alga of conventional structure, or hemichordate. My suggested interpretation of 

 the problematic fossil regards the outer mesh as the main calcified layer of a dasyclad 

 of creeping or prostrate stem-cell, perforated around lateral branches, as in Vermi- 

 porella. The variable inner layer or layers of grey calcite lining this in the type- 

 material are regarded as a secondary deposit, not part of the organism, formed after 

 death and before burial. The very distinctive thin imperforate tube found in some 

 but not all specimens, within the main cavity of the outer mesh-tube, is considered 

 the calcified outer surface of the early stem-cell, after the side-branches dropped off, 

 behind the actively growing anterior branched portion. 



Kochansky & Herak (i960) described Jugoslav Permian species of Vermiporella, 

 including V. nipponica Endo, a Japanese species to which Pseudovermiporella was 

 compared by me. Vermiporella itself has a Silurian type-species, V. fragilis Stolley, 

 whose dasycladacean nature has not been disputed. There has been, however, 

 considerable confusion over poorly-described Permian species referred to the genus, 

 and Kochansky & Herak dealt with this. They did not record Pseudovermiporella 

 (or Vermiporella) sodalica in their material, but concluded (op. cit. : 72-73) that the 

 main difference between four recognized species of Vermiporella (including the type) 

 and Pseudovermiporella is the presence of the " free inner compact-walled tube " in 

 the latter. They quoted me correctly as not having seen this structure in all 

 examples, and regarded this as growth-stage detail in a very full description of a 

 species of Vermiporella not worthy of generic distinction. 



Henbest (1963 : 33) interprets Pseudovermiporella as a " specialized, sessile genus 

 of Permian Cornuspirinae " continuing a series formed by the earlier genera Apter- 

 rinella and Hedraites, with which he compares it closely. All three are interpreted 

 as originally aragonitic foraminifera which have undergone conspicuous changes 

 during diagenesis : it is important that in this interpretation the inner layers of grey 

 calcite lining the outer mesh are regarded as an integral part of the test itself. In 

 correspondence, after examining topotype material sent by me (letter of August 17, 

 1964) Henbest regards the free inner thin- walled tube as that of " a later individual 

 or organism ". 



The three accounts quoted should be read for a full appreciation of the differing 



