Abstract. A number of species have been suggested as type species of the genus Orbitolina d’Orbigny, 1850, notably Madreporites lenticularis Blumenbach, 1805, Orbulites concava Lamarck, 1816 and Orbitolina gigantea d’Orbigny, 1850. It is shown that the correct type species is Orbitolina gigantea, although this is in fact a species of coral. Consequently in order to preserve the concept of Orbitolina as a foraminiferal genus, we herein recommend to the ICZN the proposal of Orbulites concava as a replacement type species. This would negate the need for a major revision of orbitolinid taxonomy and allows the genus Palorbitolina Schroeder, 1963 to remain valid.