Articles | Volume 45, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/jm-45-415-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/jm-45-415-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
First report of modern planktonic foraminifera in the southeastern Arabian Gulf, with observations on the morphology and ecology of Neogallitellia vivans (Cushman)
Sinatrya D. Prayudi
Geosciences Department, College of Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia
Thomas Steuber
Department of Earth Sciences, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, 127788, United Arab Emirates
retired
Michael A. Kaminski
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Geosciences Department, College of Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia
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Short summary
Building on historical research, we report the discovery of planktonic foraminifera in sediments offshore Abu Dhabi. Surprisingly, the samples are dominated by Neogallitellia vivans, a rare species typically found in the Indo-Pacific. Our detailed analysis of its shell structure suggests that this tiny organism is uniquely adapted to the extreme salinity of the southern Arabian Gulf. This finding highlights the ability of marine life to thrive in harsh, hypersaline environments.
Building on historical research, we report the discovery of planktonic foraminifera in sediments...