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Protoellipsodinium vacuolatum
From Fensome et al., 2019:
Protoellipsodinium vacuolatum Duxbury, 2018, p.190, pl.1, figs.1,4,8,12,16–17. Holotype: Duxbury, 2018, pl.1, figs.1,4. Age: early Valanginian.
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Original description Duxbury, 2018:
Plate 1, figures 1, 4, 8, 12, 16, 17
Holotype: Plate 1, Figures 1, 4.
Paratype: Plate 1, Figures 8, 12.
Type Locality: Division D3E, lower Valanginian, Speeton Clay, Speeton, England.
Holotype: Speeton Division D3E. E.F. G39.4. Paratype: Speeton Division D3E. E.F. K31.0.
Derivation of Name: From the Latin vacuolatus, having vacuoles, in reference to the structure of the spine bases and crests of this species.
Diagnosis: A small, ovoidal, smooth-walled cyst bearing numerous short, distally sharply-tapering, acuminate to rarely capitate spines. Spines may be isolated or joined by very low crests, and individual spine bases or connecting crests are typically typically vacuolate. Tabulation is indicated by the single plate precingular archeopyle and by occasional cingular and sulcal crestal alignment.
Dimensions: Holotype: 56 × 48 μm.
Paratype: 53 × 46 μm.
Overall: 56 (52) 48 μm × 51 (46) 41 μm.
Specimens Measured: 16.
Remarks: This species is distinguished from all other species of the genus by its possession of vacuoles which characterise spine bases and which run along low crests where present. It is most similar to Protoellipsodinium spinocristatum Davey and Verdier 1971, which also possesses crests which link spine bases, but it differs in being ovoidal rather than elongate/parallel-sided, and in lacking the linear spine distribution, parallel to the long-axis, which is typical of Protoellipsodinium spinocristatum. Some tabulation may be indicated by crestal alignment in Protoellipsodinium vacuolatum n. sp., although this is usually restricted to the cingulum and sulcal area. Other crests appear to be intratabular features. Protoellipsodinium vacuolatum n. sp. appears to be the oldest representative of this genus reported to date, being restricted to the early Valanginian, Beds D4A and D3E at Speeton.
Protoellipsodinium vacuolatum Duxbury, 2018, p.190, pl.1, figs.1,4,8,12,16–17. Holotype: Duxbury, 2018, pl.1, figs.1,4. Age: early Valanginian.
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Original description Duxbury, 2018:
Plate 1, figures 1, 4, 8, 12, 16, 17
Holotype: Plate 1, Figures 1, 4.
Paratype: Plate 1, Figures 8, 12.
Type Locality: Division D3E, lower Valanginian, Speeton Clay, Speeton, England.
Holotype: Speeton Division D3E. E.F. G39.4. Paratype: Speeton Division D3E. E.F. K31.0.
Derivation of Name: From the Latin vacuolatus, having vacuoles, in reference to the structure of the spine bases and crests of this species.
Diagnosis: A small, ovoidal, smooth-walled cyst bearing numerous short, distally sharply-tapering, acuminate to rarely capitate spines. Spines may be isolated or joined by very low crests, and individual spine bases or connecting crests are typically typically vacuolate. Tabulation is indicated by the single plate precingular archeopyle and by occasional cingular and sulcal crestal alignment.
Dimensions: Holotype: 56 × 48 μm.
Paratype: 53 × 46 μm.
Overall: 56 (52) 48 μm × 51 (46) 41 μm.
Specimens Measured: 16.
Remarks: This species is distinguished from all other species of the genus by its possession of vacuoles which characterise spine bases and which run along low crests where present. It is most similar to Protoellipsodinium spinocristatum Davey and Verdier 1971, which also possesses crests which link spine bases, but it differs in being ovoidal rather than elongate/parallel-sided, and in lacking the linear spine distribution, parallel to the long-axis, which is typical of Protoellipsodinium spinocristatum. Some tabulation may be indicated by crestal alignment in Protoellipsodinium vacuolatum n. sp., although this is usually restricted to the cingulum and sulcal area. Other crests appear to be intratabular features. Protoellipsodinium vacuolatum n. sp. appears to be the oldest representative of this genus reported to date, being restricted to the early Valanginian, Beds D4A and D3E at Speeton.