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Cauca perplexa
Plate 8, Figures 8, 11, 12, 14
Holotype: Plate 8, Figure 11
Paratype: Plate 8, Figure 12
Type Locality: late Hauterivian, Speeton Clay Formation, Bed C6, speetonensis ammonite Zone. Holotype: Slide C6(1), E.F. P34.0. Paratype: Slide C6(1), E.F. M33.0.
Derivation of Name: From the Latin perplexus, tangled, involved, intricate - in reference to the multifurcate processes of this species.
Diagnosis: A delicate species with a very small ellipsoidal to ovoidal main body, with the epicyst and hypocyst of similar lengths. The epicyst is rounded triangular in outline, extending into a low apical prominence and the hypocyst is semicircular. The endophragm bears numerous, regularly-spaced granules. The cyst bears sutural crests which are low, smooth and distally entire and bear 30-40 long, flat, flexuous, processes which are very complex distally, furcating three or four times. The archeopyle is epicystal, with the operculum usually attached.
Dimensions: Holotype (operculum attached): Central body - 30 × 30 μm Overall - 63 × 53 μm
Paratype (operculum detached): Central body - 25 × 30 μm Overall: 41 × 63 μm
Overall (complete specimens): Central body - 33 (28) 25 μm × 30 (27) 23μm Overall - 63 (55) 41 μm × 63 (54) 48 μm
Specimens Measured: 8
Remarks: This species is characterised by the very small size of its main body and its long, flexuous and distally very complex processes. The endocyst is similar to Cauca maculosa Duxbury 2018 in bearing numerous surface granules, but C. perplexa differs from C. maculosa in being smaller and in its distally multifurcate processes; the latter feature is so far unique within this genus.
In the present study, Cauca perplexa was restricted to Speeton Bed C6, late Hauterivian, speetonensis Zone, although because of the large sampling gap above Bed C6 (Figs. 2, 5), the range of C. perplexa may extend significantly higher in the late Hauterivian.
Holotype: Plate 8, Figure 11
Paratype: Plate 8, Figure 12
Type Locality: late Hauterivian, Speeton Clay Formation, Bed C6, speetonensis ammonite Zone. Holotype: Slide C6(1), E.F. P34.0. Paratype: Slide C6(1), E.F. M33.0.
Derivation of Name: From the Latin perplexus, tangled, involved, intricate - in reference to the multifurcate processes of this species.
Diagnosis: A delicate species with a very small ellipsoidal to ovoidal main body, with the epicyst and hypocyst of similar lengths. The epicyst is rounded triangular in outline, extending into a low apical prominence and the hypocyst is semicircular. The endophragm bears numerous, regularly-spaced granules. The cyst bears sutural crests which are low, smooth and distally entire and bear 30-40 long, flat, flexuous, processes which are very complex distally, furcating three or four times. The archeopyle is epicystal, with the operculum usually attached.
Dimensions: Holotype (operculum attached): Central body - 30 × 30 μm Overall - 63 × 53 μm
Paratype (operculum detached): Central body - 25 × 30 μm Overall: 41 × 63 μm
Overall (complete specimens): Central body - 33 (28) 25 μm × 30 (27) 23μm Overall - 63 (55) 41 μm × 63 (54) 48 μm
Specimens Measured: 8
Remarks: This species is characterised by the very small size of its main body and its long, flexuous and distally very complex processes. The endocyst is similar to Cauca maculosa Duxbury 2018 in bearing numerous surface granules, but C. perplexa differs from C. maculosa in being smaller and in its distally multifurcate processes; the latter feature is so far unique within this genus.
In the present study, Cauca perplexa was restricted to Speeton Bed C6, late Hauterivian, speetonensis Zone, although because of the large sampling gap above Bed C6 (Figs. 2, 5), the range of C. perplexa may extend significantly higher in the late Hauterivian.