Cantabriconus reocinianus n. gen., n. sp. a new conical agglutinating benthic foraminifera from the upper Aptian-lower Albian of Cantabria, N-Spain

A new large conical agglutinating benthic foraminifer is described as Cantabriconus reocinianus n. gen., n. sp. from the upper Aptian-lower Albian Urgonian limestones of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin. It is characterized by a prominent initial trochospire, an undivided marginal zone, an endoskeleton of massive, vertically aligned, and often fused pillars, as well as a thick, most likely pseudo-keriothecal wall structure. Due to the generic characteristics, the new taxon is assigned to the Coskinolinidae. Cantabriconus n. gen. is compared with the Cretaceous Pseudolituonella Marie, and the early Paleogene taxa Coskinolina Stache and Coskinon Hottinger & Drobne as well as the Middle Jurassic Conicopfenderina Septfontaine. Cantabriconus reocinianus n. gen., n. sp. has been observed in the upper Aptian Reocín Formation and in the lower part of the Albian Ramales and Meruelo Formations to the east of Santander. It might therefore be considered an index taxon for Urgonian-type limestones of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin in this time interval.