Nuove osservazioni su morfologia ed ecologia di Miliammina fusca (Brady) e Discorinopsis aguayoi (Bermudez) rinvenuti in una vasca termale di Montecatini Terme (Pistoia)

A systematic revision of a foraminiferal fauna, recorded by Papi and Tavani (1959) in the mineral waters of a Montecatini Terme pool (Tuscany, Italy), has been performed. The foraminiferal fauna is represented by Miliammina fusca (Brady) and Discorinopsis aguayoi (Bermudez). The specimens are small-sized and often exhibit morphological anomalies. M. fusca is characterized by an irregular growth of the chambers of the outer whorl. D . aguayoi exhibits inflated test and a large-sized, protruding chamber in the first whorl. The specimens of D. aguayoi also show a thin test wall and a thick organic lining. These morphological anomalies are interpreted as being due to the chemical and physical water parameters, such as temperature (13°-15°C during the day), pH (7.0) and salinity (8.6 per mille), as measured at the time of sampling. However, these anomalies would be chiefly related to the low value of salinity. The foraminiferal fauna of Montecatini is considered relict of the Pliocene sea.