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Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri
From Fensome et al., 2019:
Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri Soliman and Lucas-Clarke 2018, p.33–34,36, pl.1, figs.1a–c,2a–c,3a–c,4–6; pl.2, figs.1–12; pl.3, figs.1–12; text-fig.3. Holotype: Soliman and Lucas-Clarke 2018, pl.2, figs.1–3. Age: Late Miocene.
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Original description Soliman and Lucas-Clark, 2018:
Holotype. Plate II, 1–3; Sample HC1-1; slide A; England Finder V45. Specimen number: UMJ G&P 211338 in the Joanneum Museum, Graz, Austria.
Paratype. Plate II, 4–6; Sample HC1-2; slide A; England Finder W61. Specimen number: UMJ G&P 211339 in the Joanneum Museum, Graz, Austria.
Etymology. In honor of Prof. Werner E. Piller, Institute of Earth Sciences, Graz University, Austria.
Type locality. Hennersdorf Clay Pit, Vienna Basin, Austria.
Occurrence of the type material: The Záhorie Member of the Bzenec Formation, upper Miocene (Pannonian).
Diagnosis. Small, spherical to subspherical, autophragmal, peridinioid cysts densely covered with short, solid, evexate, hair-like processes expanded proximally and often tangled distally. Archeopyle large, mesoepicystal, with ventral extension (tab) into the archeopyle, probably representing paraplate 1′ and/or preapical plates. Dorsal margin of archeopyle suture smooth or angular and sometimes suggesting a bipesoidal, hexa-style of tabulation.
Description. Small, proximochorate, acavate, peridinioid dinoflagellate cysts, always spherical to subspherical but can be folded or otherwise distorted; lacking horns. Wall thin, c. 0.3 μm or less. Autophragm covered with non-tabular (usually), short, solid, slender, hair-like processes of uniform length, circular in cross-section, expanded and sometimes perforate proximally, evexate distally, rarely acuminate. Evexate tips of processes often tangled distally. Distance between adjacent processes varies from 1 to 3 μm. A direct relationship apparently exists between central-body diameter and process length (Fig. 4). Wall colorless or light brown in light microscopy. Tabulation not developed by ornamentation except in some specimens where alignment or clustering of processes or bare linear areas without processes suggest the shape of a plate, position of the cingulum or plate boundaries (Plate I, 4, 5: Plate II, 8; Plate III, 1, 6, 9, 11). Archeopyle shape the only consistently present indication of tabulation, and in some specimens it is obscured by rounding. In some specimens, minute accessory sutures may indicate boundaries of precingular plates; slight angularity of archeopyle suggests shape of opercular plates (Plate III, 10). Archeopyle mesoepicystal, consisting of the loss of 3 apicals (2′–4′) and 3 intercalaries (1a–3a), (3A3I). Operculum simple, polyplacoid and free. Shape of the dorsal margin of the archeopyle in some specimens indicates a hexa-style plate 2a (Plate III, 10). Cysts consistently characterized by a variable tab extending into the archeopyle probably representing the anterior point of apical plate 1′ (cut off or rounded) and/or preapical plates (Plate I, 4; Fig. 3).
Dimensions. Holotype: Central-body maximum diameter 27 μm; processes maximum length 3.5 μm. Paratype: Central-body maximum diameter 33 μm; processes maximum length 6.5 μm. Range: Central-body maximum diameter 26(32.4)42 μm, processes maximum length 2.5(4.8)8 μm and wall thickness c. 0.3 μm. Forty one specimens measured (Fig. 4).
Comparison. Sentusidinium hirsuta (Stover, 1977) Wood et al., 2016 is similar to Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri in general appearance, and Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri has been mistakenly recorded as Batiacasphaera hirsuta Stover, 1977 (now Sentusidinium hirsuta) (e.g. Harzhauser et al., 2008). According to Stover's (1977) original description Sentusidinium hirsutum displays a gonyaulacoid archeopyle and operculum and is also larger than Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri (41–49 μm vs. 26–42 μm). However, an examination of the holotype (in Stover, 1977, plate 1, 1–3) and other published illustrations (Schreck et al., 2012, plate 3, 1–3) suggests that the shape of the operculum and the archeopyle are not typical (tA) gonyaulacoid plate patterns. Neither is the shape the same as the archeopyle of Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri. Furthermore, the archeopyle and operculum of the holotype (of S. hirsutum) are moderately angular, not rounded, and the archeopyle seems to have accessory archeopyle sutures, although Stover (1977) describes them as rare. There is no obvious tab in the archeopyle of the holotype of Sentusidinium hirsutum, and the processes appear to be acuminate, not evexate. Hence, the morphological evidence indicates that Sentusidinium hirsutum is distinct from Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri.
Batiacasphaera deheinzelinii Louwye, 1999 bears a striking resemblance to Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri (especially at low focus; Louwye (1999, plate III, 4). However, the specimen figured by Louwye (1999), plate II, 13), which is focused directly on the archeopyle, shows an apical archeopyle with a clearly different shape than that of Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri. The species is also slightly smaller than Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri (23–30 μm vs. 26–42 μm) and has acuminate processes that are not expanded proximally (Louwye, 1999, plate III, 1–2). Wood et al. (2016, p. 66) consider B. deheinzelinii to be a junior synonym of Sentusidinium hirsutum.
Some workers (e.g. J. Lentin and L. E. Edwards pers. comm. written) have wondered whether a number of species assigned to Batiacasphaera, even the type (Batiacasphaera compta), are actually peridinioid and not gonyaulacoid. However, the taxonomic question and research applicable to it are beyond the scope of this paper.
Stratigraphic range. Upper Miocene (Pannonian).
Occurrences. Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri is the dominant dinoflagellate species in the lower part of the Hennersdorf core/section below the coquina horizon (Fig. 2). Above this horizon, it is recorded continuously but in lower percentages of the 300 specimens counted. The species has also been recorded by Harzhauser et al. (2008) (as Batiacasphaera hirsuta) from Hennersdorf and by Rundić et al. (2011) (also as Batiacasphaera hirsuta) from the upper Miocene (Pannonian) of Serbia.
Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri Soliman and Lucas-Clarke 2018, p.33–34,36, pl.1, figs.1a–c,2a–c,3a–c,4–6; pl.2, figs.1–12; pl.3, figs.1–12; text-fig.3. Holotype: Soliman and Lucas-Clarke 2018, pl.2, figs.1–3. Age: Late Miocene.
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Original description Soliman and Lucas-Clark, 2018:
Holotype. Plate II, 1–3; Sample HC1-1; slide A; England Finder V45. Specimen number: UMJ G&P 211338 in the Joanneum Museum, Graz, Austria.
Paratype. Plate II, 4–6; Sample HC1-2; slide A; England Finder W61. Specimen number: UMJ G&P 211339 in the Joanneum Museum, Graz, Austria.
Etymology. In honor of Prof. Werner E. Piller, Institute of Earth Sciences, Graz University, Austria.
Type locality. Hennersdorf Clay Pit, Vienna Basin, Austria.
Occurrence of the type material: The Záhorie Member of the Bzenec Formation, upper Miocene (Pannonian).
Diagnosis. Small, spherical to subspherical, autophragmal, peridinioid cysts densely covered with short, solid, evexate, hair-like processes expanded proximally and often tangled distally. Archeopyle large, mesoepicystal, with ventral extension (tab) into the archeopyle, probably representing paraplate 1′ and/or preapical plates. Dorsal margin of archeopyle suture smooth or angular and sometimes suggesting a bipesoidal, hexa-style of tabulation.
Description. Small, proximochorate, acavate, peridinioid dinoflagellate cysts, always spherical to subspherical but can be folded or otherwise distorted; lacking horns. Wall thin, c. 0.3 μm or less. Autophragm covered with non-tabular (usually), short, solid, slender, hair-like processes of uniform length, circular in cross-section, expanded and sometimes perforate proximally, evexate distally, rarely acuminate. Evexate tips of processes often tangled distally. Distance between adjacent processes varies from 1 to 3 μm. A direct relationship apparently exists between central-body diameter and process length (Fig. 4). Wall colorless or light brown in light microscopy. Tabulation not developed by ornamentation except in some specimens where alignment or clustering of processes or bare linear areas without processes suggest the shape of a plate, position of the cingulum or plate boundaries (Plate I, 4, 5: Plate II, 8; Plate III, 1, 6, 9, 11). Archeopyle shape the only consistently present indication of tabulation, and in some specimens it is obscured by rounding. In some specimens, minute accessory sutures may indicate boundaries of precingular plates; slight angularity of archeopyle suggests shape of opercular plates (Plate III, 10). Archeopyle mesoepicystal, consisting of the loss of 3 apicals (2′–4′) and 3 intercalaries (1a–3a), (3A3I). Operculum simple, polyplacoid and free. Shape of the dorsal margin of the archeopyle in some specimens indicates a hexa-style plate 2a (Plate III, 10). Cysts consistently characterized by a variable tab extending into the archeopyle probably representing the anterior point of apical plate 1′ (cut off or rounded) and/or preapical plates (Plate I, 4; Fig. 3).
Dimensions. Holotype: Central-body maximum diameter 27 μm; processes maximum length 3.5 μm. Paratype: Central-body maximum diameter 33 μm; processes maximum length 6.5 μm. Range: Central-body maximum diameter 26(32.4)42 μm, processes maximum length 2.5(4.8)8 μm and wall thickness c. 0.3 μm. Forty one specimens measured (Fig. 4).
Comparison. Sentusidinium hirsuta (Stover, 1977) Wood et al., 2016 is similar to Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri in general appearance, and Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri has been mistakenly recorded as Batiacasphaera hirsuta Stover, 1977 (now Sentusidinium hirsuta) (e.g. Harzhauser et al., 2008). According to Stover's (1977) original description Sentusidinium hirsutum displays a gonyaulacoid archeopyle and operculum and is also larger than Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri (41–49 μm vs. 26–42 μm). However, an examination of the holotype (in Stover, 1977, plate 1, 1–3) and other published illustrations (Schreck et al., 2012, plate 3, 1–3) suggests that the shape of the operculum and the archeopyle are not typical (tA) gonyaulacoid plate patterns. Neither is the shape the same as the archeopyle of Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri. Furthermore, the archeopyle and operculum of the holotype (of S. hirsutum) are moderately angular, not rounded, and the archeopyle seems to have accessory archeopyle sutures, although Stover (1977) describes them as rare. There is no obvious tab in the archeopyle of the holotype of Sentusidinium hirsutum, and the processes appear to be acuminate, not evexate. Hence, the morphological evidence indicates that Sentusidinium hirsutum is distinct from Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri.
Batiacasphaera deheinzelinii Louwye, 1999 bears a striking resemblance to Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri (especially at low focus; Louwye (1999, plate III, 4). However, the specimen figured by Louwye (1999), plate II, 13), which is focused directly on the archeopyle, shows an apical archeopyle with a clearly different shape than that of Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri. The species is also slightly smaller than Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri (23–30 μm vs. 26–42 μm) and has acuminate processes that are not expanded proximally (Louwye, 1999, plate III, 1–2). Wood et al. (2016, p. 66) consider B. deheinzelinii to be a junior synonym of Sentusidinium hirsutum.
Some workers (e.g. J. Lentin and L. E. Edwards pers. comm. written) have wondered whether a number of species assigned to Batiacasphaera, even the type (Batiacasphaera compta), are actually peridinioid and not gonyaulacoid. However, the taxonomic question and research applicable to it are beyond the scope of this paper.
Stratigraphic range. Upper Miocene (Pannonian).
Occurrences. Sphaeripilosa wernerpilleri is the dominant dinoflagellate species in the lower part of the Hennersdorf core/section below the coquina horizon (Fig. 2). Above this horizon, it is recorded continuously but in lower percentages of the 300 specimens counted. The species has also been recorded by Harzhauser et al. (2008) (as Batiacasphaera hirsuta) from Hennersdorf and by Rundić et al. (2011) (also as Batiacasphaera hirsuta) from the upper Miocene (Pannonian) of Serbia.