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Andalusiella spicata
Andalusiella spicata, (May, 1980), Lentin and Williams, 1981
Holotype: May, 1980, pl.9, fig.19
Locus typicus: Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey
Stratum typicum: Mount Laurel Sand, Campanian-Maastrichtian
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Original description as Deflandrea spicata: May, 1980, p. 79:
Description:
Periblast rhomboidal to ovoidal in dorso-ventral view, dorso-ventrally flattened, bearing a long (up to 30 µm), conical, apical horn and 2 shorter conical, antapical horns which are closely associated, having immediately adjacent bases; the left horn being longer (ca. 20 µm long) than the right; the right antapical horn being short (ca. 8 µm long) and spike-like.
Periphragm granular. Endoblast rhomboidal in outline, closely associated with periblast throughout main body area, forming a continuous lateral pericoel, and also anterior and posterior pericoels within the horns. Endophragm smooth.
No tabulation observed.
Cingulum levorotatory with ca. 1 cingulum width offset; bordered by faint, but continuous sutural folds on periphragm. The interior of the cingulum is also granular.
Sulcus narrow and depressed, extending antapically a short distance from between terminal ends of cingulum; bears a small arcuate mark slightly beneath terminal ends of cingulum indicating the position of the 1 flagellar pore (on theca).
Archeopyle intercalary (Type I/I), hexagonal in outline, having alternating long and short sides; occupies more than 2/~3 medial dorsal epitract; operculum frequently in place, but does not appear attached.
Dimensions:
Observed range (10 specimens measured): length 154-200 µm, width 60-97 µm; wall layers ca. 2 µm, endophragm thicker than periphragm; distance from apex of endoblast to apical horn tip ca. 30 µm, from base of endoblast to antapical horn tip ca. 25 µm.
Discussion:
Specimens observed in the Mount Laurel Sand are generally wider at the cingulum than those observed in the Navesink Formation, and they also exhibit the elliptical sulcal mark, and cingulum, which the Navesink Formation specimens appear to lack.
Affinities:
Although the Monmouth Group specimens are Deflandrea-like in appearance they bear certain features not unlike Palaeocystodinium australinum (Cookson, 1965): somewhat fusiform outline with extended apical and antapical horns, and a short, spike-like horn attached onto the right side of the main antapical horn. Perhaps the closest resemblance is shared with Svalbardella polymorpha Malloy (1972); however, D. spicata displays the granular ornamentation, cingulum, and sulcus (which, S. polymorpha lacks). In general, D. spicata appears quite distinct from previously described Deflandrea forms.
Holotype: May, 1980, pl.9, fig.19
Locus typicus: Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey
Stratum typicum: Mount Laurel Sand, Campanian-Maastrichtian
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Original description as Deflandrea spicata: May, 1980, p. 79:
Description:
Periblast rhomboidal to ovoidal in dorso-ventral view, dorso-ventrally flattened, bearing a long (up to 30 µm), conical, apical horn and 2 shorter conical, antapical horns which are closely associated, having immediately adjacent bases; the left horn being longer (ca. 20 µm long) than the right; the right antapical horn being short (ca. 8 µm long) and spike-like.
Periphragm granular. Endoblast rhomboidal in outline, closely associated with periblast throughout main body area, forming a continuous lateral pericoel, and also anterior and posterior pericoels within the horns. Endophragm smooth.
No tabulation observed.
Cingulum levorotatory with ca. 1 cingulum width offset; bordered by faint, but continuous sutural folds on periphragm. The interior of the cingulum is also granular.
Sulcus narrow and depressed, extending antapically a short distance from between terminal ends of cingulum; bears a small arcuate mark slightly beneath terminal ends of cingulum indicating the position of the 1 flagellar pore (on theca).
Archeopyle intercalary (Type I/I), hexagonal in outline, having alternating long and short sides; occupies more than 2/~3 medial dorsal epitract; operculum frequently in place, but does not appear attached.
Dimensions:
Observed range (10 specimens measured): length 154-200 µm, width 60-97 µm; wall layers ca. 2 µm, endophragm thicker than periphragm; distance from apex of endoblast to apical horn tip ca. 30 µm, from base of endoblast to antapical horn tip ca. 25 µm.
Discussion:
Specimens observed in the Mount Laurel Sand are generally wider at the cingulum than those observed in the Navesink Formation, and they also exhibit the elliptical sulcal mark, and cingulum, which the Navesink Formation specimens appear to lack.
Affinities:
Although the Monmouth Group specimens are Deflandrea-like in appearance they bear certain features not unlike Palaeocystodinium australinum (Cookson, 1965): somewhat fusiform outline with extended apical and antapical horns, and a short, spike-like horn attached onto the right side of the main antapical horn. Perhaps the closest resemblance is shared with Svalbardella polymorpha Malloy (1972); however, D. spicata displays the granular ornamentation, cingulum, and sulcus (which, S. polymorpha lacks). In general, D. spicata appears quite distinct from previously described Deflandrea forms.