A—Nubecularia stephensi, Howchin. Carbopermian. N.S.W.
B—Frondicularia woodwardi, Howchin. Carbopermian. N.S.W.
C—Geinitzina triangularis, Chapman and Howchin. Carbopermian. N.S.W.
D—Valvulina plicata, Brady. Carbopermian. West Australia.
E—Vaginulina intumescens, Reuss. Jurassic. West Australia.
F—Flabellina dilatata, Wisniowski. Jurassic. West Australia.
G—Marginulina solida, Terquem. Jurassic. West Australia.
H—Frondicularia gaultina, Reuss. Cretaceous. West Australia.
Carbopermian Foraminifera.—
In Australia, as at Pokolbin, New South Wales, in the Mersey River district, Tasmania, and in the Irwin River district, Western Australia, the Permian rocks, or “Permo-carboniferous” as they are generally called, often contain beds of impure limestone crowded with the chalky white tests of Nubecularia: other interesting genera occur at the first named locality as Pelosina, Hyperammina, Haplophragmium, Placopsilina, Lituola, Thurammina, Ammodiscus, Stacheia, Monogenerina, Valvulina, Bulimina, (?)Pleurostomella, Lagena, Nodosaria, Frondicularia, Geinitzina, Lunucammina, Marginulina, Vaginulina, Anomalina and Truncatulina. The sandy matrix of certain Glossopteris leaf-beds in the Collie Coal measures in W. Australia have yielded some dwarfed examples belonging to the genera Bulimina, Endothyra, Valvulina, Truncatulina and Pulvinulina; whilst in the Irwin River district similar beds contain Nodosaria and Frondicularia ([Fig. 63]).
Triassic Foraminifera.—
The Triassic and Rhaetic clays of Europe occasionally show traces of foraminiferal shells, probably of estuarine habitat, as do the Wianamatta beds of New South Wales, which also belong to the Triassic epoch. The Australian representatives are placed in the genera Nubecularia, Haplophragmium, Endothyra, Discorbina, Truncatulina, and Pulvinulina. These shells are diminutive even for foraminifera, and their starved condition indicates uncongenial environment.
Jurassic Foraminifera.—
The Jurassic limestones of Western Australia, at Geraldton, contain many species of Foraminifera, principally belonging to the spirally coiled and slipper-shaped Cristellariae. Other genera present are Haplophragmium, Textularia, Bulimina, Flabellina, Marginulina, Vaginulina, Polymorphina, Discorbina, and Truncatulina.
Cretaceous Foraminifera.—
In the Lower Cretaceous rocks known as the Rolling Downs Formation in Queensland, shells of the Foraminifera are found in some abundance at Wollumbilla. They are represented chiefly by Cristellaria and Polymorphina.