New paleoenvironmentally important species of agglutinated foraminifera from the Oligocene and Miocene of the Beaufort Sea, Arctic Canada

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Abstract
Six new species of agglutinated foraminifera have been identified from Oligocene to Miocene sequences in the Beaufort-Mackenzie Basin of Arctic Canada. They are Psamminopelta arca n. sp., Labrospira turbida n. sp., Recurvoides brideauxi n. sp., Recurvoides torquis n. sp., Reticulophragmium projectus n. sp., and Gravellina indistincta n. sp. The new taxa have discrete distributions in continental shelf, slope, and rise facies and are particularly useful in discriminating deltaic and deeper water facies. Labrospira turbida n. sp. is diagnostic of the delta- front facies in the Oligocene Kugmallit sequence. Recurvoides torquis n. sp. is characteristic of mid-basin prodelta/shelf facies in the Kugmallit and Mackenzie Bay sequences. Reticulophragmium projectus is a deep-water indicator occurring in the Kugmallit and lowermost Mackenzie Bay sequences. Gravellina indistincta occurs in the prodelta/muddy shelf facies and also in deep-basin facies. Recurvoides brideauxi is characteristic of the deep-water continental slope facies, occurring in the Kugmallit, Mackenzie Bay and late Miocene Akpak sequences. Psamminopelta arca n. sp. is typically rare in lower slope to continental rise facies of the Kugmallit and Mackenzie Bay sequences. Labrospira turbida and Reticulophragmium projectus show morphological adaptations to their contrasting habitats. Both show strengthened tests-L. turbida by thickened sutures and a lenticular shape; R. projectus by a thick alveolar wall, rotund shape, sinuous sutures, and a ridge on the apertural face.

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