Aptian planktonic foraminifera from Israel

Twenty-two species of Aptian planktonic foraminifera from offshore Israel are described and illustrated for the first time by SEM photographs. The validity of several species and genera is reviewed, avoiding splitting of taxa and unjustified synonymy. The assemblage is characteristic of the Tethyan realm. Four zones are distinguished, as follows (from youngest to oldest): Pseudoplanomalina cheniourensis Zone and Globigerinelloides algerianus Zone of Late Aptian, Leopoldina cabri Zone, Early Aptian (upper part) to Late Aptian (lower part), and Blowiella blowi Zone, Early Aptian to Late Barremian. The proposed stratigraphic scheme is compared with the most updated zonations.