Holocene benthonic foraminifera from the shelf sediments of Kerala coast

Abstract

Of the 32 species of benthic foraminifera recovered here some show definite Indo-Pacific affinity. Ecological parameters which govern this offshore region are considered. Several species show similarities with those found in the Neogene while the occurrence of @iHyalinea balthica@@ found in the present material (and which marks the Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary in Italy) is known to be a cool to cold water indicator. Earlier it was reported (Setty 1972) that @iGlobigerina pachyderma@@ (Ehrenberg) a cool to cold water planktonic species also occurs in this region. A few other species present in the sediment at this depth are considered to be transported fauna. However, they all show a geologic range from Miocene to Recent