Albian-Turonian planktic foraminiferal zonation and evolutionary trends in the Gebel Musaba Salama section, West Central Sinai, Egypt

Seventeen planktic foraminiferal species belonging to nine genera have been identified in the Late Albian to Early Turonian sequence. This interval is subdivided into five world-wide biozones. The new Asterohedbergella asterospinosa Zone (= Rotalipora reicheli Zone) is proposed for the Middle Cenomanian due to the rare presence of Rotalipora reicheli in the Cenomanian sediments of the study area. This biostratigraphy allows calibration of biozone boundaries with the magnetostratigraphy, determination of the local sedimentation rates, and the rate of evolutionary changes for planktic foraminifers in this Tethyan setting.