The genus Rhabdammina in the Northeast Atlantic; a new species, a redescription of R. major de Folin, 1887, and some speculations on species relationships

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Abstract
Large, tubular agglutinated foraminiferans of the genus Rhabdammina are common in some epibenthic sledge samples obtained in the northeast Atlantic. They include an irregular, branched form, described herein as R. neglecta, n. sp. This species, which is particularly abundant around 3,000 m bathymetric depth, seems previously to have been confused with Saccorhiza ramosa (Brady, 1879). Occurring frequently at rather shallower depths (around 2,000 m) are larger, more regularly branched tubes usually identified as R. irregularis Carpenter, 1869. I argue that Carpenter''s name is a nomen dubium and that this species should properly be called R. major de Folin, 1887. A lectotype and paralectotypes are herein selected from de Folin''s type series. The close relationship between R. major and two other species, R. abyssorum Carpenter, 1869 and R. discreta Brady, 1881 is emphasized. A tentative hypothesis is advanced that these three forms represent different growth stages of the same species.