Fusulinida

Fusulinida Temporal range: L Silurian - U Permian
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Protista
Phylum:	Rhizaria
Class:	Foraminifera
Order:	Fusulinida
Superfamilies
Archaediscacea Colaniellacea Earlandiacea Endothyracea Fusulinacea Geinitzinacea Moravamminacea Nodosinellacea Palaeotextulariacea Parathuraminacea Ptychocladiacea Tetrataxacea Tournayellacea

The Fusulinida is an extinct order within the Foraminifera in which the tests (shells) are composed of tightly packed, secreted microgranular calcite. In advanced forms the test wall is differentiated into two or more layers. Loeblich and Tappan, 1988, gives a range from the Lower Silurian to the Upper Permian, although in the Treatise, 1964, it is given from the Ordovician to the Triassic.

Taxonomy

Thirteen superfamilies are presently recognised, based on taxa (families) included in the three superfamilies given in the Treatise. Three are based on families in the Parathuramminacea, 1964, and nine on families in the Endothyracea, 1964. The Fusulinacea remains the same in both sources (Treatise 1964 and Loeblich and Tappan, 1988).

Terminology

The term, "fusulinid" really applies to any of the Fusulinida. The Fusulinida are fusulinids ( sensu latu). However the term "fusulinid" is often applied just to the fusiform Fusulinacea, and not to the entire order.

Application

Members, especially of the Fusulinacea, are excellent guide fossils for determining ages and correlating Upper Mississippian to Permian strata. In some places fusulinaceans may be so abundant as to be a significant component of limestone.

References

• Ursula Leppig, Holger C. Forke, Michael Montenari and Beate Fohrer (2005): A three- and two-dimensional documentation of structural elements in schwagerinids (superfamily Fusulinoidea) exemplified by silicified material from the Upper Carboniferous of the Carnic Alps (Austria/Italy): a comparison with verbeekinoideans and alveolinids.- Facies, Volume 51: 541 - 553.
• Alfred R. Loeblich, Jr., Helen Tappan, 1964:Sarcodina Chiefly "Thecamoebians" and Foraminiferida; Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, part C Protista 2.
• Alfred R. Loeblich, Jr., Helen Tappan, 1988: Foraminiferal genera and their classification, E-Book published by Geological Survey of Iran, 2005, Online
• Stevens, Calvin H. (September 1995). "A Giant Permian Fusulinid from East-Central Alaska with Comparisons of All Giant Fusulinids in Western North America". Journal of Paleontology (Paleontological Society) 69 (5): 805–812 (article consists of 8 pages). JSTOR 1306346. 

Triticites sp. cross-section; Plattsmouth Chert; Red Oak, Iowa; Permian.

This article incorporates information from the equivalent article on the German Wikipedia.