A new monothalamous foraminiferan from 1000 to 6300 m water depth in the Weddell Sea: morphological and molecular characterisation

We describe Bathyallogromia weddellensis gen. & sp. nov., a deep-water, monothalamous foraminiferan from bathyal and abyssal sites in the western Weddell Sea. The species is characterised by a delicate, almost spherical, organic-walled test, a low, broad projecting apertural region, and light grey or greenish cytoplasm containing mineral grains and other inclusions. Molecular phylogenetic analyses, based on small subunit rRNA gene sequences, indicate that Bathyallogromia is an independent lineage branching within a clade of monothalamous foraminiferans, which also includes such genera as Saccammina, Gloiogullmia, Cylindrogullmia, Rhabdammina, Toxisarcon and Pilulina (?). Lack of significant genetic differences between specimens collected at depths ranging from 1000 to 6300 m suggests that B. weddellensis is adapted to conditions that span a broad bathymetric range.