Oligocene and Miocene larger foraminiferida from Australia and New Zealand

The lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy, and the systematics, of larger foraminiferids at several Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene localities in Australia are described. In particular, sediments of this interval in the North West Cape area of the Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia, have yielded diverse faunas of larger and planktic foraminiferids. Sections studied and sampled elsewhere were Ashmore Reef No. 1 well in the Bonaparte Gulf Basin; Gage Roads No. 2 well in the Perth Basin; the Batesford and Bochara Limestones in Victoria; Wreck Island No. 1 well in Queensland; and the Tutamoe, Puketi, and Waitiiti Formations, the Waikuku Limestone, the Stillwater Mudstone, and the Orakei Greensand Member of the East Coast Bays Formation, all in New Zealand. Forty species and subspecies, representing 25 genera or subgenera of larger foraminiferids, have been recorded. Wherever possible, biometric methods have been used to discriminate between taxa. Such studies suggest that the rates of evolution of some groups of larger foraminiferids in New Zealand were different from those in the Australian region. Among the taxa that are illustrated and described in detail are two subspecies of Lepidocyclina (Nephrolepidina) proposed as new: Lepidocyclina (Nephrolepidina) howchini praehowchini and Lepidocyclina (Nephrolepidina) orakeiensis waikukuensis. Topotypes of L. (N.) orakeiensis hornibrooki and L. (N.) howchini howchini have been discussed and figured.