Back
Lophocysta domenicorioi
Original description Iakovleva 2025:
Lophocysta domenicorioi sp. nov.
Plate I, 1-21
1993 Thalassiphora succincta Morgenroth, 1966; Brinkhuis and Biffi, pl. X, fig. 4.
2024 Lophocysta sp.; Iakovleva et al., pl. 5, figs. 20–21.
Etymology: Named in reference to the outstanding scientific contributions of Professor Dr. Domenico Rio, eminent micropaleontologist (coccolithophora) at the University of Padova, and ‘founding father’ of the Alano GSSP project.
Type locality and horizon: Sample A5572, level 55,72 m, Alano di Piave section, Italy.
Holotype: Plate I, figs. 1–4; Sample A5572, slide 1, EF = M35.
Paratype 1: Plate I, figs. 5–8; Sample A3206, slide 1, EF = E19–3.
Paratype 2: Plate I, figs. 9, 14, 18; Sample A5632, slide 1, EF = K33.
Studied material: Alano di Piave section, Italy.
Stratigraphic horizon: Lower Priabonian.
Diagnosis: A distinctly camocavate, almost ‘pizza calzone-styled’ shaped species of Lophocysta characterized by an ovoid-shaped, smooth to scabrate endophragm, overlain by a granulated, intensely folded, triangular shaped, occasionally irregularly perforated periphragm. The layers are in close contact dorsally, from apex to antapex, but widely separated elsewhere, to a ventrally distally closed, ‘elongated box’ shaped feature in ventral view. An apical and/or antapical protrusion in both layers may frequently be formed. Archeopyle precingular, Type 1P, 3″ (free).
Description:
Shape: Central body: ovoid to (sub) sphaerical, overall crescent (‘calzone’) shaped.
Wall relationships: Camocavate cysts, dorsally closely appressed from apex to antapex, in shape similar to that half-moon, famous (folded) calzone pizza.
Wall features: Smooth to scabrate endophragm, overlain by a granulated, intensely folded, occasionally irregularly perforated periphragm. An apical and/or antapical protrusion in both layers may frequently be formed.
Processes: Absent.
Paratabulation: Faint sutures and ridges indicate a standard Gonyaulacoid configuration.
Archeopyle: Precingular, 1P, 3″, operculum free.
Paracingulum: Indicated by sutural ridges of low relief.
Parasulcus: Indicated by sutural ridges of low relief, and by the distinct, ‘elongated box’ – shaped feature of the folded periphragm (i.e. see Plate I, figs. 10–13, 15–17).
Dimensions: Holotype. central body 42 × 55 μm, overall 95×84μm. Paratype 1. central body 41 × 54 μm, overall 94x82μm, Paratype 2. central body 40 × 55 μm, overall 92x82μm. Total diameter central body ∼ 40-60 μm, overall 80–105 μm (10 specimens).
Comparison: Manum (1979) described the thus far sole, and type species of Lophocysta, (L. sulcolimbata) from the lower Miocene of the Voring Platform, Norwegian Sea. It differs from L. domenicorioi by having a completely smooth endophragm, showing less parasutural features, covered by an also intensely folded, but an equally smooth, periphragm with large perforations. L. domenicorioi superficially resembles species currently included in Thalassiphora (e.g., like T. succincta), but differs in having a strongly radially compressed periphragm, and the apparent lack of a ventral opening, besides possessing apical and antapical extensions.
Lophocysta domenicorioi sp. nov.
Plate I, 1-21
1993 Thalassiphora succincta Morgenroth, 1966; Brinkhuis and Biffi, pl. X, fig. 4.
2024 Lophocysta sp.; Iakovleva et al., pl. 5, figs. 20–21.
Etymology: Named in reference to the outstanding scientific contributions of Professor Dr. Domenico Rio, eminent micropaleontologist (coccolithophora) at the University of Padova, and ‘founding father’ of the Alano GSSP project.
Type locality and horizon: Sample A5572, level 55,72 m, Alano di Piave section, Italy.
Holotype: Plate I, figs. 1–4; Sample A5572, slide 1, EF = M35.
Paratype 1: Plate I, figs. 5–8; Sample A3206, slide 1, EF = E19–3.
Paratype 2: Plate I, figs. 9, 14, 18; Sample A5632, slide 1, EF = K33.
Studied material: Alano di Piave section, Italy.
Stratigraphic horizon: Lower Priabonian.
Diagnosis: A distinctly camocavate, almost ‘pizza calzone-styled’ shaped species of Lophocysta characterized by an ovoid-shaped, smooth to scabrate endophragm, overlain by a granulated, intensely folded, triangular shaped, occasionally irregularly perforated periphragm. The layers are in close contact dorsally, from apex to antapex, but widely separated elsewhere, to a ventrally distally closed, ‘elongated box’ shaped feature in ventral view. An apical and/or antapical protrusion in both layers may frequently be formed. Archeopyle precingular, Type 1P, 3″ (free).
Description:
Shape: Central body: ovoid to (sub) sphaerical, overall crescent (‘calzone’) shaped.
Wall relationships: Camocavate cysts, dorsally closely appressed from apex to antapex, in shape similar to that half-moon, famous (folded) calzone pizza.
Wall features: Smooth to scabrate endophragm, overlain by a granulated, intensely folded, occasionally irregularly perforated periphragm. An apical and/or antapical protrusion in both layers may frequently be formed.
Processes: Absent.
Paratabulation: Faint sutures and ridges indicate a standard Gonyaulacoid configuration.
Archeopyle: Precingular, 1P, 3″, operculum free.
Paracingulum: Indicated by sutural ridges of low relief.
Parasulcus: Indicated by sutural ridges of low relief, and by the distinct, ‘elongated box’ – shaped feature of the folded periphragm (i.e. see Plate I, figs. 10–13, 15–17).
Dimensions: Holotype. central body 42 × 55 μm, overall 95×84μm. Paratype 1. central body 41 × 54 μm, overall 94x82μm, Paratype 2. central body 40 × 55 μm, overall 92x82μm. Total diameter central body ∼ 40-60 μm, overall 80–105 μm (10 specimens).
Comparison: Manum (1979) described the thus far sole, and type species of Lophocysta, (L. sulcolimbata) from the lower Miocene of the Voring Platform, Norwegian Sea. It differs from L. domenicorioi by having a completely smooth endophragm, showing less parasutural features, covered by an also intensely folded, but an equally smooth, periphragm with large perforations. L. domenicorioi superficially resembles species currently included in Thalassiphora (e.g., like T. succincta), but differs in having a strongly radially compressed periphragm, and the apparent lack of a ventral opening, besides possessing apical and antapical extensions.