The origin of the Alveolinoidea (porcelaneous larger Foraminifera): Ovalveolina? primigenita sp. nov., from the Aptian (Bedoulian–Gargasian) of Iran and Croatia

A new alveolinid is here formally presented from the lower Aptian (Bedoulian) and Gargasian of Iran and Croatia. Based on the globular shape, presence of continuous septula and preseptal passage, it can be possibly included into the genus Ovalveolina as Ovalveolina? primigenita sp. nov.. The occurrence of a structure resembling to alveoli and few adult supplementary foramina individuate however a mismatch with the type of the genus O. ovum, whereas alveoli can be observed in some sections of O. crassa figured by previous authors. The new species is separated from those allies of the genus (O. ovum and O. crassa) by some biometrical parameters. Ovalveolina? primigenita sp. nov. represents the oldest alveolinid so far know in the geological record. The earliest occurrence of an alveolinoid tells about the origin of the group which took place within the Arabian and Adriatic platform domains during the lower Aptian. This would suggest that the spreading of diversity into the Peri-Mediterranean and Middle East ‘mid’-Cretaceous genera such as Cisalveolina, Praealveolina, Ovalveolina and Archaealveolina, among others, was likely related to the radiation event recorded herein.