Foraminifers and algae from the Khuff Formation (late Middle Permian-Early Triassic) of central Saudi Arabia

Algae and smaller foraminifers of the eponymous Khuff Formation (Saudi Arabia) principally comprise Permocalculus, biseriamminids, hemigordiids and lagenids. Due to the end-Capitanian crisis (Late/Middle Permian boundary) and the regional palaeoecology, fusulinids are rare and only represented by Nankinella sp. and Eostaffella? sp. Palaeofusulinids are completely lacking. New age data shows that these foraminifers correspond to the complete Lopingian (Late Permian) as indicated by several species of Paradagmarita. The position of the Triassic/Permian Boundary is approximately characterised, but requires more accurate studies. Forty-three taxa were identified, mostly in open nomenclature. One new species is described: Glomospirella? linae n. sp. The foraminiferal assemblage is correlated with several associations in Iran, Turkey, Transcaucasia and south China.