Nezzazatinella, Darmoian, 1976

Simmons, Michael, Bidgood, Michael, Consorti, Lorenzo & Schlagintweit, Felix, 2025, A Review Of The Identity And Biostratigraphy Of Cenomanian “ Larger ” Benthic Foraminifera: Part 1 - The Nezzazatoidea, Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae 21 (1), pp. 5-57 : 32-38

Nezzazatinella ex gr. picardi ( Henson, 1948b)

Fig. 13

T 1948b Valvulammina picardi n. sp. - Henson, p. 613; pl. 15, figs. 1, 3; pl. 17, figs. 3-6; Santonian, Egypt.

1954 Valvulammina parrelloides n. sp. - Magne & Sigal (in Cheylan et al.), p. 482-483, pl. XIV, figs. 4a-c; Coniacian? Algeria.

1957 Ceratobulimina aegyptiaca n. sp. - Sherif & Kenawy, p. 83, pl. 13, fig. 21a-c; “early Turonian”, Egypt [the age of the section from which the types come is now known to be late Cenomanian – e.g. Zobaa et al., 2008; Mahsoub et al., 2012; Abd Elhady et al., 2014; Schlagintweit & Mohsen Yazdi-Moghadam, 2022].

1961 Valvulammina picardi - Hamaoui, p. 12, pl. 1, figs. 7,?9; pl. 2, figs. 1, 3; pl. 3, figs. 3, 7; pl. 9, figs.?17, 18, 20-25; Cenomanian, Israel.

1964 Valvulammina picardi – Bozorgnia & Banafti, pl. LXXV, fig. 1, Late Albian – Cenomanian, Central Iran 1965 Valvulammina sp. - Wynd, pl. 19a-b; Cenomanian?- Turonian, Coastal Fars, Iranian Zagros.

1965 Valvulammina picardi - Gollestaneh, p. 192; pl. 40, figs. 1-5; Hauterivian?/Barremian-Aptian, Iranian Zagros. 1966 Valvulammina picardi - Hamaoui, pl. 3, fig. 6; Cenomanian, Negev, Israel.

1968 Valvulammina picardi - Gendrot; pl. X, figs. 9-11; Santonian, southern France.

1968 Valvulammina parrelloides - Gendrot, pl. X, figs 7- 8; Santonian, southern France.

1969 Valvulammina picardi - Sampò, pl. XLV, figs. 7-8; Cenomanian-Turonian, Iranian Zagros.

1969 “ Valvulammina ” sp. - Conrad, fig. 17e-h. Barremian, Switzerland.

1970 Valvulammina cf. picardi - Hamaoui & Saint-Marc, pl. 40, fig. 2 (see also pls. 33, 35); late Cenomanian, Lebanon.

1973 Valvulammina picardi - El-Naggar & Al-Rifaiy, fig. 8(1-2); Cenomanian, Kuwait.

1976 Nezzazatinella adhami n. sp. Darmoian, p. 525; pl. 1, figs. 1-7;?late Turonian, Iraq.

1976 Nezzazata conica - Kalantari, pl. 22, fig. 22; Cenomanian, Iranian Zagros.

? 1976 Valvulammina picardi - Luperto-Sinni, pl. 46, fig. 5; “Senonian”, southwest Italy.

Non 1976 Valvulammina picardi - Kalantari, pl. 22, figs. 21, 23; Cenomanian, Iranian Zagros [= indeterminate].

1977 Valvulammina picardi - Chiocchini & Mancinelli, pl. 35, fig. 2, pl. 38, fig. 2, pl. 39, fig. 1; middle Cenomanian – Turonian, southern Italy.

1977 Valvulammina cf. parrelloides - Chiocchini & Mancinelli, pl. 42, fig. 2, early Senonian [Coniacian?], southern Italy.

1977 Valvulammina picardi - Velić, pl. XXXI, figs. 5-6; late Albian, Croatia.

? 1978 Trochospira avnimelechi - Luperto-Sinni & Richetti, pl. 45, figs. 1-5; Santonian-Maastrichtian, southwest Italy.

1979 Nezzazatinella macoveii n. sp. - Neagu, p. 492-493, text-gig. 5, pl. 3, figs. 1-3, pl. 4, figs. 11-13; late Barremian, Romania.

1979 Valvulammina picardi - Mamužič et al., pl. 8, fig. 5; Cenomanian, Croatia.

1980 Nezzazatinella macoveii - Arnaud-Vanneau, p. 454- 458, text-figs. 169-171, pl. 52, figs. 1-4, pl. 80, figs. 1-13; Barremian – early Aptian, southern France.

1980 Nezzazatinella n. sp. - Arnaud-Vanneau, p. 459- 461, text-fig. 172, pl. 52, figs. 8-12, pl. 80, figs. 27-31; late Barremian – early Aptian, southern France.

1981 Valvulammina picardi - Bismuth et al., pl. 4, figs. 9-10; late Cenomanian-Coniacian, Tunisia.

1988 Nezzazatinella picardi - Sartorio & Venturini, p. 112, upper figure; early Albian-late Santonian, Italy.

? 1989 Nezzazatinella aegyptiaca - Chérif et al., pl. 1, fig. 24; middle Turonian, Egypt [external view only].

1990 Nezzazatinella picardi - Šribar & Pleničar, pl. 4, fig. 3; late Turonian, Slovenia.

1992 Nezzazatinella cf. picardi - Schlagintweit, p. 333; pl. 1, Abb. 9; middle Cenomanian-Santonian, Austrian Alps.

1992 Nezzazatinella picardi - Foglia, pl. 3, fig. 6; “Lower Senonian”, southern Italy.

1992 Nezzazata sp. - Kalantari, text-fig. 137(5), text-fig. 136; Maastrichtian, Iranian Zagros.

1994 Nezzazatinella picardi - Chiocchini et al., pl. 23, fig. 1; early Senonian, southern Italy.

1994 Nezzazatinella cf. aegyptiaca - Chiocchini et al., pl. 20, figs 1-3; Turonian, southern Italy.

1996 Nezzazatinella picardi - De Castro & Sirna, pl. III, figs. 8-11; Coniacian, Egypt.

1997 Nezzazatinella picardi - Rosales-Domínguez et al., fig. 4G; Cenomanian, Mexico.

? 1997 Nezzazatatinella adhami [sic]- Ismail & Soliman, p. 167; pl. 1, figs. 11-13; Cenomanian, Egypt [external views that are indeterminate].

1998 Nezzazatinella picardi - Whittaker et al., p. 56; pl. 21, figs. 1-2; pl. 76, figs. 3-6; early Turonian-late Santonian; Kuwait, Arabian Peninsula, Palestine / Israel.

2000 Nezzazatinella picardi (incorrectly attributed to “d’Orbigny, 1957”) - Aguilera-Franco, p. 162 including figure; middle-late Cenomanian, Mexico.

2003 Nezzazatinella picardi - Polavder, fig. 4(1-2); Late Cretaceous, Carpathians.

2004 Nezzazatinella picardi - Ettachfini & Andreu, fig. 8A; late Cenomanian, Morocco.

2004 Nezzazatinella picardi - Menegatti, p. 2-34-2-35, pl. 11, fig. 7; pl. 12, fig. 4; late Cenomanian, offshore Dubai. 2005 Nezzazatinella picardi - Vaziri et al., pl. 2, figs. 8-9; late Cenomanian-Maastrichtian, central Iran.

2006 Nezzazatinella picardi - Taslı et al., fig. 7S- T; Coniacian-Santonian; central Turkey.

2006 Nezzazatinella picardi - Husinec & Sokač, fig. 10H- I; early Albian, Croatia.

? 2006 Nezzazatinella picardi - Taslı et al., fig. 5E- F; fig. 7S-T; early Aptian- central Turkey.

2008 Nezzazatinella cf. aegyptiaca - Frijia et al., fig. 4f; Turonian, southern Italy.

2009 Nezzazatinella picardi - Sari et al., pl. II, figs. 12- 13; middle Cenomanian-Turonian, western Taurides, Turkey.

2009 Nezzazatinella picardi - Vaziri et al., pl. 2, figs. 8-9; Santonian – Campanian/?Maastrichtian, central Iran.

2010 Nezzazatinella picardi - Spalluto & Caffau, fig. 12D; late Albian, southern Italy.

2011 Nezzazatinella picardi - Khosrotehrani et al., pl. 1A; Santonian, Iranian Zagros.

2012 Nezzazatinella picardi - Ghanem et al., fig. 6d(3); base Albian – top Cenomanian, Syria.

2012 Nezzazatinella picardi - Rahimpour-Bonab, fig. 8P; Cenomanian - Turonian, Iranian Zagros.

2012 Nezzazatinella cf. aegyptiaca - Chiocchini et al., pl. 118, figs. 1-2; Turonian, southern Italy.

2012 Nezzazatinella picardi - Chiocchini et al., pl. 138, figs. 1-2, Santonian, southern Italy.

2012 Nezzazatinella picardi - Omaña et al., pl. 2, fig. 1; pl. 5, fig. 8; middle-late Cenomanian, Mexico.

2013 Nezzazatinella picardi - Rahimpour-Bonab, fig. 8P; Cenomanian - Turonian, Iranian Zagros.

2013 Nezzazatinella picardi - Granier et al., pl. 8, fig. c; Late Cretaceous, Guatemala.

? 2013 Nezzazatinella picardia [sic] - Ghanem & Kuss, fig. 9(1-2); fig. 10(12), fig. 11(25); fig. 13(31-32); fig. 14(34); late Aptian – top Cenomanian, Syria.

? 2013 Nezzazatinella picardi - Shanin & Elbaz, pl. 1, fig. 28; late Cenomanian, Egypt [only a single external view presented].

2014a Nezzazatinella picardi - Omidvar et al., pl. 1, fig. Q; Cenomanian-Turonian, Iranian Zagros.

2014b Nezzazatinella picardi - Omidvar et al., pl. fig. 4/2; Cenomanian – Turonian, Iranian Zagros.

? 2014 Nezzazatinella picardi - Afghah et al. fig. 12E; Cenomanian, Iranian Zagros.

Non 2014 Nezzazatinella picardi - Afghah & Fadaei, pl. 8h (but referring to 9h); Cenomanian, Iranian Zagros [indeterminate foraminifera, but not Nezzazatinella ].

2015 Nezzazatinella sp. - Frijia et al., fig. 7L, fig. 8D; latest Cenomanian – Campanian, southern Italy.

2016 Nezzazatinella picardi - Assadi et al., fig. 6(a1 (mislabelled “ Nezzazata picardi ”, b4 (labelled correctly)); late Cenomanian, Iranian Zagros.

2016 Nezzazatinella picardi - Ghaseminia et al., fig. 4B; Coniacian-Santonian; Iranian Zagros.

2016 Nezzazatinella picardi - Rahiminejad & Hassani, fig. 6G; late Cretaceous (Cenomanian?), central Iran.

2016 Nezzazatinella picardi - Rikhtegarzadeh et al., pl. 3, fig. 5; Cenomanian, Iranian Zagros.

2016 Nezzazatinella sp. - Arriaga et al., p. 12-14, fig. 4; late Turonian – early Coniacian, southern Italy.

2017 Nezzazatinella picardi - Rikhtegarzadeh et al., pl. 1, fig. 9; Cenomanian, Iranian Zagros.

2017 Nezzazatinella picardi - Koç, fig. 6a(F1-6); early Aptian, Turkey.

2017 Nezzazata conica - BouDagher-Fadel et al., fig. 12/11; Cenomanian, Tibet.

2017 Merlingina cretacea - Granier et al., fig. 6G-H; age not given, Guatemala.

? Non 2017 Nezzazatinella picardi - Koç, fig. 6b (D1-4); early Cenomanian – early Turonian [probably Nezzazata sp. ].

2019 Nezzazatinella picardi - Taslı & Solak, fig. 10(15- 16); late Albian, Turkish Taurides.

2019 Nezzazatinella picardi - Özkan & Altiner, fig. 9/16- 18; Turonian; Turkish Arabian Plate [Cenomanian age may be preferred; Simmons et al., 2020].

2019 Nezzazatinella picardi - Omaña et al., p. 707; fig. 9b; middle-late Cenomanian, Mexico.

2019 Nezzazatinella picardi - Solak et al, fig. 8L; middle – late Cenomanian, Turkish Taurides.

2019 Nezzazatinella sp. - Solak et al., 2019, fig. 10E; late Campanian, Turkish Taurides.

? 2019 Nezzazatinella picardi - Kiarostami et al., pl. 1b; Cenomanian, Iranian Zagros.

2020 Nezzazatinella picardi - Solak et al., fig. 6D, E; fig. 11E-H (?11H), (non fig. 11L); fig. 13 G-H (?G), J, O (non fig. 13F), 14R1-R3; Cenomanian-Turonian, western Taurides, Turkey.

2020 Nezzazatinella picardi - Sinanoğlu et al., pl. 1, fig. 5; Maastrichtian, Turkish Arabian Plate.

2020 Nezzazatinella picardi - Fabbi et al., fig. 5m (as cf.), 5o; Coniacian-Santonian, Italy.

2020 Nezzazatinella picardi - Vaziri-Moghaddam & Kalanat, fig. 4/13; Cenomanian – Turonian, Iranian Zagros.

? 2020 Nezzazatinella sp. and Dobrogelina sp. - Bomou et al., fig. 13; late Cenomanian, Mexico.

Non 2020 Nezzazatinella picardi - Solak et al., Fig. 11L [= Siphopfenderina geyikensis (Solak, 2022) ].

Non 2020 Nezzazatinella picardi - Randazzo et al., fig. 9A-B; early Albian, Sicily ( Italy) [probably Nezzazata sp. ].

Non 2020 Nezzazatinella picardi - Keshavarzi et al., pl. 2, fig. c; Albian, Iranian Zagros [probably not a foraminifera].

2021 Nezzazatinella cf. isabellae - Consorti & Schlagintweit, fig. 2C-D. late Cenomanian, Kosova [name used in error, N. isabellae is a small species of Nezzazata - see herein].

2021 Nezzazatinella picardi - Özkan, fig. 11(23-26); Campanian, Turkish Arabian Plate.

2021 Nezzazatinella picardi - Sinanoğlu, Pl. I, fig. 5; Maastrichtian, Turkey.

2021 Nezzazatinella picardi - Saeedi-Razavi et al., pl. 1, fig. 9; Cenomanian-Turonian, Iranian Zagros.

2021 Nezzazatinella picardi - Mohajer et al., pl. 2, fig. n; late Cenomanian, Iranian Zagros.

2021 Nezzazatinella picardi - Bagherpour et al., fig. 12ab, g; Turonian – Coniacian/Santonian, Iranian Zagros.

2021 Nezzazatinella picardi - Shapourikia et al., fig. 8b; late Albian – Cenomanian, Iranian Zagros.

2021 Nezzazatinella sp. - Solak, pl. 2I-J, pl. 3N-O (?); middle – late Cenomanian, Turkish Taurides.

2021 Nezzazatinella sp. - Solak et al., fig. 3(5-28); late? Albian, Turkish Taurides.

2022 Nezzazatinella picardi - Asghari et al., pl. 1, fig. h; late Cenomanian, Iranian Zagros.

2022 Nezzazatinella picardi - Al-Dulaimy et al., pl. 1(E, G); pl. 2, fig. C; pl. 3, fig. G [?]; late Cenomanian, SE Iraq.

2022 Nezzazatinella picardi - Mohajer et al., fig. 4j; Cenomanian, Iranian Zagros.

Non 2022 Nezzazatinella picardi - Brajkovič et al., fig. 2f; mid-Cretaceous, Slovenia [indeterminate foraminifera].

2023a Nezzazatinella picardi - Mehrabi et al., fig. 11(J); Santonian, Persian Gulf.

2023b Nezzazatinella picardi - Mehrabi et al., fig. 6(P): Turonian, Iranian Zagros.

2023 Nezzazatinella picardi - Esfandyari et al., fig. 21(gh); late Albian-Cenomanian Iranian Zagros.

2023 Nezzazatinella - Schlagintweit et al., fig. 4; middle -?late Turonian, Iranian Zagros [probably can be reassessed as no younger than middle Turonian; Simmons et al., 2024].

2023 – Nezzazatinella sp. - Solak & Taslı; fig. 9E, fig. 12N-O, fig. 13I-K; late Aptian – Albian, Turkish Taurides.

Non 2023 Nezzazatinella picardi - Dawood & Al-Dulaimi, pl. 1F; middle – late Cenomanian, southern Iraq [= Nezzazata ex gr. gyra ].

2024 Nezzazatinella picardi - Křížová et al., fig. 4o; Turonian, NE Italy.

2024 Nezzazatinella picardi - Moghaddam et al., fig. 2f; Cenomanian, Iranian Zagros.

2024 Nezzazatinella cf. picardi - Sun & Schlagintweit, fig. 7h-k; Campanian?, Tarim Basin, China.

2024 Nezzazatinella sp. - Alteneiji et al., fig. 10-B-C; late Barremian, United Arab Emirates.

Taxonomy/Identity: First described by Henson (1948b) from the supposed Santonian of Egypt as Valvulammina picardi , this species was subsequently placed in the genus Nezzazatinella , when the genus was created by Darmoian (1976). The type species of Nezzazatinella , N. adhami , was considered as a synonym of N. picardi by Whittaker et al. (1998) although maintained as separate species by Omaña et al. (2019). Herein, pending a full taxonomic study, we introduce the concept Nezzazatinella ex. gr. picardi that includes the following taxa as originally described: Valvulammina picardi Henson, 1948b ; Valvulammina parrelloides Magne & Sigal (in Cheylan et al., 1954); Ceratobulimina aegyptiaca Said & Kenawy, 1957 ; Nezzazatinella adhami Darmoian, 1976 ; Nezzazatinella macoveii Neagu, 1979 ; Nezzazatinella n. sp. Arnaud-Vanneau, 1980; Nezzazatinella cf. aegyptiaca sensu Chiocchini et al. 2012 ; and Nezzazatinella sp. sensu Solak et al., 2021. As shown in Table 4 these taxa are broadly similar in nature of coiling, dimensions, chamber shape and other biometric features (see also discussion in Schlagintweit, 1992; Arriaga et al., 2016; Solak et al., 2020, 2021). The shape of the periphery can vary from rounded to subacute, but this is a minor variation.

In terms of nomenclature used, N. picardi is by far the most common, with a wide range in terms of geography and age, with there being a few uses of N. aegyptiaca (including the cf. form) and N. adhami .

Valvulammina parrelloides is a poorly known species originally described from the probable Coniacian of Algeria (Magne & Sigal in Cheylan et al., 1954). It is only known from external views, but appears similar to Nezzazatinella , as noted by Darmoian (1976) and Schlagintweit (1992). The only usage of the name to describe specimens appears to be Gendrot (1968) and also Chiocchini & Mancinelli (1977) who mention “ Valvulammina cf. parrelloides ” from the “Senonian” of Italy.

Ceratobulimina aegyptiaca was recognised as a species of Nezzazatinella by Chérif et al. (1989), although the type description from the “early Turonian” (= late Cenomanian) of Egypt presents only external views ( Said & Kenawy, 1957). Chérif et al. (1989) also considered N. adhami a synonym. The holotype has recently been re-illustrated by the American Museum of Natural History (https://collections.nmnh.si.edu/search/paleo/?ark=ark:/6 5665/38d26cf415ae54d8daed2913d6c3242ee) which demonstrates a fine-grained agglutinating wall texture. The age of the section from which the types come is now known to be Cenomanian (e.g., Zobaa et al., 2008; Mahsoub et al., 2012; Abd Elhady et al., 2014; Schlagintweit & Yazdi-Moghadam, 2022). It is only occasionally referred to in the literature, although Chiocchini et al. (1994, 2008, 2012) refer to a form called Nezzazatinella cf. aegyptiaca but without explanation.

Nezzazatinella adhami described from the Turonian of southern Iraq ( Darmoian, 1976) remains a poorly known species since it is described from external views only. As noted by Arriaga et al. (2016) re-examination of type material is required to establish the differences, if any, with other taxa.

Nezzazatinella macoveii described from the late Barremian of Romania ( Neagu, 1979) has limited reports in the literature. N. macoveii is said to have possible supplementary cribrate apertures, which would be a key difference to other forms of Nezzazatinella , although these will be difficult to recognise in thin-section.

Arnaud-Vanneau (1980) introduced “ Nezzazatinella n.sp. ” from the late Barremian – early Aptian of France. Not reported subsequently (to the best of our knowledge), it is perhaps the most distinctive of the taxa included in the Nezzazatinella ex. gr. picardi concept used herein, with a notably subangular profile in axial cross-section.

Solak et al. (2021) recently introduced a form they called “ Nezzazatinella sp. ” from the (late?) Albian of the Turkish Taurides that they felt was distinct from other species of Nezzazatinella , but which is included herein within N. ex. gr. picardi pending further investigation. It is a relatively small form with few chambers in the last whorl.

Systematic treatments of Nezzazatinella are rare (see Omaña et al., 2019, for an example). Henson's (1948b) description remains, probably, the most comprehensive, supplemented by the work of Darmoian (1976).

Essentially, according to Darmoian’s (1976) description and remarks, Nezzazatinella shows none of the diagnostic features of Valvulammina Cushman to which N. picardi was originally assigned by Henson (1948b) and has much more in common with the genus Nezzazata . It differs from Nezzazata in the following respects; (i) chambers in the final whorl are narrowly elongated, (ii) the last 3-4 chambers are strongly elongated resulting in a flaring test, (iii) chambers increase rapidly in size, (iv) ventral sutures are sinuate, (v) the umbilicus (pseudoumbilicus) is open and (vi) the aperture is slit-like rather than more L-shaped with a toothplate.

Whittaker et al. (1998) and Vaziri-Moghaddam & Kalanat (2020) incorrectly considered the wall to be porcellaneous.

Reference Images: Henson (1948b) Pl. XV, Figs. 1 , 3 , Pl. XVIII [error in original – should be plate XVII], Figs. 3-6 , p. 613. Chiocchini et al. (2012) has several illustrations from the Santonian of Italy.

Confident Stratigraphic Range: late Barremian to top Maastrichtian pending taxonomic review.

Uncertain Stratigraphic Range: Not applicable.

N. ex. gr. picardi exemplifies the issues regarding the use of Cretaceous LBF as biostratigraphic markers. In totality, its range appears to be very long (late Barremian to Maastrichtian), but locally it may be restricted to certain rock units and have local correlation value, if not chronostratigraphic significance. For example, in Italy it is regarded as a classic component of the “Radiolitid Limestone Unit” of the Turonian – Campanian ( Consorti et al., 2017). Chiocchini et al. (2012) restrict the range to the Santonian within southern Italy (see further evidence from Fabbi et al., 2020). On the other hand, these same authors recognise a “ Nezzazatinella cf. aegyptica and

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Nummoloculina cf. irregularis zone” encompassing the whole of the Turonian. However, Nezzazatinella cf. aegyptica (which is herein included in the N. ex. gr. picardi concept) is shown ranging into the late Cenomanian and Coniacian. This zone was formerly termed the Valvulammina picardi-Nummoloculina heimi zone by Chiocchini & Mancinelli (1977).

N. picardi and its likely synonym N. adhami were originally recorded from post-Cenomanian strata (Santonian of Egypt and?late Turonian? of southern Iraq respectively), but N. ex. gr. picardi has been commonly reported from Cenomanian strata throughout Neotethys where it has been used locally as a zonal marker (see below) and, also locally, may be restricted to the Cenomanian (e.g., Aguilera-Franco, 2000, 2003). The type section of N. adhami is in the lower Shat Al Arab Formation in the subsurface of the Ratawi oilfield of southern Iraq. It comes from a miliolid-rich limestone lying between the Mishrif Formation and the Khasib Member/Formation. Questionably thought to be late Turonian by Darmoian (1976), it is possible that it occurs in the equivalent of the Laffan and Ilam Formations in neighbouring Iran, above a mid-Turonian unconformity ( Simmons et al., 2024; Hosseini et al, 2024).

Reports of the species in the Aptian Dariyan Formation of the Iranian Zagros (Haghighi & Sahraeyn, 2014; Hamedanian et al., 2017) are unsubstantiated by illustration. However, Gollesstaneh (1965) illustrates the species from the Barremian – Aptian (and possibly Hauterivian) of the Iranian Zagros. The form illustrated falls into the broad concept of N. ex. gr. picardi . This is probably also true for specimens of N. picardi from the Aptian of Turkey ( Taslı et al., 2006; Koç, 2017) and from the Albian of Sicily ( Randazzo et al., 2020). Forms identified as Nezzazatinella by Alteneiji et al. (2024; fig. 10b-c) from as old as the late Barremian of northeast UAE also support Gollesstaneh’s record (see also Schlagintweit et al., 2024a).

The species has been widely described from the mid-Cretaceous of the Middle East, especially the Zagros with many records from the Cenomanian – early Turonian Sarvak Formation. Whilst it can occur lower in the Sarvak Formation, it appears to be a distinct component of the uppermost (Turonian) part of this formation where this interval is preserved (see Schlagintweit et al., 2023c; Simmons et al., 2024 for a discussion of this preservation and Hosseini et al., 2024 for mention of occurrence). Wynd (1965) created the “ Valvulammina – Dicyclina Assemblage Zone (29)” recognising this (and illustrating what is N. picardi as Valvulammina sp. ), later the Moncharmontia apenninica – Nezzazatinella – Dicyclina Assemblage Zone of Omidvar et al. (2014b) that is demonstrably Turonian in age from Strontium isotope analysis ( Mehrabi et al., 2022a, b). Ghaseminia et al. (2016) show that the species can occur in the overlying Laffan and Ilam Formations (probably no older than Coniacian – Simmons et al., 2024) (see also Rahimpour-Bonab et al., 2013; Omidvar et al., 2014b; Bagherpour et al., 2 021; Hosseini et al., 2024), thus demonstrating that the species not only survived the end-Cenomanian extinction, but also the major intra-Turonian stratigraphic reorganisation and hiatus ( Simmons et al., 2024). It is said to occur in the equivalent Halul Formation of offshore Abu Dhani ( Le Blanc, 2015).

N. picardi was illustrated from the Cenomanian Mishrif Formation of Kuwait (El-Naggar & Al-Rifaiy, 1973), and recently illustrated from the Mishrif Formation of southern Iraq ( Al-Dulaimy et al., 2022). The species is well known from the Cenomanian of Israel and Lebanon ( Hamaoui, 1961, 1966; Hamaoui & Saint-Marc, 1970). Arkin & Hamaoui (1967) report it as ranging throughout the Cenomanian into the Turonian in Israel.

N. picardi has sometimes been used as a zonal marker, either alone (e.g., Omaña et al., 2019; Nezzazatinella picardi Interval Zone assigned to middle – late Cenomanian; Dehghanian & Afghah, 2021; N. picardi zone assigned to the middle Cenomanian; Parvaneh Nejad Shirazi et al. 2009 – N. picardi assemblage zone assigned to the Albian) or with other taxa (e.g., Mohajer et al., 2021 - N. picardi-Mangashtia- Dicyclina assemblage zone attributed to the early Turonian; Omidi et al., 2021 - N. picardi-Dicyclina schlumbergeri assemblage zone of the Turonian). All of these would appear to be local biofacies intervals rather than true biozones.

Geographic Range: N. ex. gr. picardi is known from Guatemala and Mexico to Tibet with many records from North Africa and the Arabian Plate as well as the Mediterranean region. There are also records from Central Iran and the Tarim Basin, suggesting this taxon was one of the most widespread Cretaceous LBF.

Figures

Fig. 13. Representative illustrations of Nezzazatinella picardi: a. Subequatorial section, Whittaker et al. (1998, pl. 76, fig. 6, Egypt); b. Oblique external view (drawing), Henson (1947, pl. XVII, fig. 5, Egypt); c. Oblique section, Chiocchini et al. (2012, pl.138, fig. 6, Italy); d. Oblique section, Chiocchini et al. (2012, pl.138, fig. 8, Italy); e. Near equatorial section, Lorenzo Consorti personal collection (Santonian-Campanian, Sardinia).

Fig. 11. Representative illustrations of Nezzazata ex gr. gyra: a. Axial section, Hamaoui in Schroeder & Neumann (1985, pl.12, fig. 6, Iraq); b. Axial section, Hamaoui in Schroeder & Neumann (1985, pl. 12, fig. 4 (as N. conica), Iraq); c. Oblique section, Hamaoui in Schroeder & Neumann (1985, pl. 12, fig. 9, Iraq); d. Equatorial section, Chiocchini et al. (2012, pl. 102, fig. 4, Italy).

Fig. 1. Typical characteristics of the nezzazatoids. a-d. test shape - planispiral (Biplanata), low trochospiral, biconvex (Trochospira, with umbilical depression), planoconvex (Nezzazata) and subglobular (Rabanitina); e. typical presentation of test wall as homogenous and microgranular (Nezzazata); f-h. pseudokeriothecal wall and detail visible in wellpreserved specimens (f-g. Nezzazata and h Simplorabanitina); a, i-k. examples (arrowed) of median “dental” or tooth- like structures in i. Rabanitina, a. & j. Biplanata and k. Trochospira. [sources: a. Hamaoui & Saint Marc (1970, pl. 6, fig.2); b. Chiocchini et al. (2012, pl. 99, fig. 7); c. Hamaoui in Schroeder & Neumann (1985, pl. 12, fig. 4); d. Smout (1956, pl.2, fig. 18); e-h. Schlagintweit & Yazdi-Moghadam (2022a, figs. 2-3); i. Smout (1956, pl.2, fig. 19); j. Saint Marc (1974, pl. V, fig. 1); k. Chiocchini et al. (2012, pl. 99, fig. 3)]. All images without scale.

Fig. 3. Representative illustrations of Daxia cenomana: a. Equatorial section, Arnaud-Vanneau & Prestat in Schroeder & Neumann (1985, pl. 1, fig. 2, France); b. Axial section, Arnaud-Vanneau & Prestat in Schroeder & Neumann (1985, pl. 1, fig.7, France); c. Oblique axial-equatorial section, Yiwei Hu personal collection (?middle-late? Albian, Tibet); d. Subaxial section, Yiwei Hu personal collection (?middle-late? Albian, Tibet).