Benthic Foraminifera from Littoral Sediments of Al Lith-Al Qunfidhah Coast, Southeastern Red Sea

Abstract

Fifty five surface sediment samples from the nearshore area between Al Lith and Al Qunfidhah, southeastern Red Sea have been analysed for benthic Foraminifera. In contrast with the northeastern parts of the Red Sea, rotaliids dominate the fauna of this region. However, in sediments rich in carbonate, miliolids are abundant. Textularids are very rare. Rotaliids are mostly associated with fine sediments, while miliolids are shared between coarse and fine sediments. The relative dominance of Rotaliina over Miliolina is attributed to the periodic influx of fresh water and mixing of terrigenous sediments with the in situ carbonates. The observed dominance of Miliolina over Rotaliina in certain sediments along the coast indicates typical character of subtropical carbonates and no hypersaline conditions in those places.