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Spiniferites varmae
Spiniferites v?varmae Lentin and Williams, 1973, p.131. Emendation: Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, p.84–84, as Spiniferites? varmae.
Originally Hystrichosphaera pseudofurcata, subsequently Spiniferites varmae, thirdly (and now) Spiniferites varmae?. Questionable assignment: Stover and Evitt (1978, p.191) as a problematic species. Substitute name for Hystrichosphaera pseudofurcata Varma and Dangwal, 1964, p.66, pl.2, figs.7–8; the name Spiniferites pseudofurcatus is preoccupied.
Holotype: Varma and Dangwal, 1964, pl.2, figs.7–8.
Age: Eocene–Oligocene.
Original diagnosis: Varma and Dangwal, 1964, p.66: Hystrichosphaera pseudofurcata
Body spherical, smooth to granulate. Body wall distinct, about 3 µm thick. All over the body are seen a few, big, roundish to angular, 5- to 7-sided, plate-like structures (size 15-25 µm) characteristic of Hystrichosphaera species. Generally, from the angles of these plates arise one or more processes which coalesce with one another, forming a sort of bundle. Tips of the processes in each bundle hang down sideways giving a false appearance of branching.
Measurement: Diameter of body ca. 45-60 µm; length of processes ca. 11 µm.
Emended Diagnosis: Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, p.83-84
Spherical to subspherical intermediate proximochorate cyst without horns, comprising a smooth to fairly granular periphragm and a smooth endophragm adpressed between the processes. Parasutural septa distinctive and relatively high. Processes short, sometimes hollow, tapering to cylindrical with foliate to patulate or recurved distal extremities. Paratabulation indicated by parasutural septa as 4" (?), 6", 6c, 6""", 1p, 1"""". Archeopyle precingular, formed by the loss of paraplate 3". Dimensions of the figured specimen: length of cyst 70 µm, width 65 µm, length of processes 15 µm. Thecal affinities: Unknown; possibly related to the modern Gonyaulacaceae based on its paratabulation and archeopyle.
Affinities:
Varma and Dangwal, 1964, p.66: At first sight the specimens resemble Hystrichosphaera furcata, but a detailed comparison shows marked difference in the size of the body, in the organisation of the plates, and in the processes, which do not have true furcations. Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, p.84: The diagnosis of S. varmae is emended to include reference to its precingular archeopyle and paratabulation. S. varmae was first described as Hystrichosphaera pseudofurcata by Varma and Dangwal (1964) but the name H. pseudofurcata was pre-occupied by Klumpp (1953) for another species. Lentin and Williams (1973) therefore designed the new species name S. varmae for the taxon. S. varmae is similar to S. pseudofurcatus, but differs in possessing a spherical central body and relatively short gonal processes with patulate to recurved endings.
Originally Hystrichosphaera pseudofurcata, subsequently Spiniferites varmae, thirdly (and now) Spiniferites varmae?. Questionable assignment: Stover and Evitt (1978, p.191) as a problematic species. Substitute name for Hystrichosphaera pseudofurcata Varma and Dangwal, 1964, p.66, pl.2, figs.7–8; the name Spiniferites pseudofurcatus is preoccupied.
Holotype: Varma and Dangwal, 1964, pl.2, figs.7–8.
Age: Eocene–Oligocene.
Original diagnosis: Varma and Dangwal, 1964, p.66: Hystrichosphaera pseudofurcata
Body spherical, smooth to granulate. Body wall distinct, about 3 µm thick. All over the body are seen a few, big, roundish to angular, 5- to 7-sided, plate-like structures (size 15-25 µm) characteristic of Hystrichosphaera species. Generally, from the angles of these plates arise one or more processes which coalesce with one another, forming a sort of bundle. Tips of the processes in each bundle hang down sideways giving a false appearance of branching.
Measurement: Diameter of body ca. 45-60 µm; length of processes ca. 11 µm.
Emended Diagnosis: Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, p.83-84
Spherical to subspherical intermediate proximochorate cyst without horns, comprising a smooth to fairly granular periphragm and a smooth endophragm adpressed between the processes. Parasutural septa distinctive and relatively high. Processes short, sometimes hollow, tapering to cylindrical with foliate to patulate or recurved distal extremities. Paratabulation indicated by parasutural septa as 4" (?), 6", 6c, 6""", 1p, 1"""". Archeopyle precingular, formed by the loss of paraplate 3". Dimensions of the figured specimen: length of cyst 70 µm, width 65 µm, length of processes 15 µm. Thecal affinities: Unknown; possibly related to the modern Gonyaulacaceae based on its paratabulation and archeopyle.
Affinities:
Varma and Dangwal, 1964, p.66: At first sight the specimens resemble Hystrichosphaera furcata, but a detailed comparison shows marked difference in the size of the body, in the organisation of the plates, and in the processes, which do not have true furcations. Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, p.84: The diagnosis of S. varmae is emended to include reference to its precingular archeopyle and paratabulation. S. varmae was first described as Hystrichosphaera pseudofurcata by Varma and Dangwal (1964) but the name H. pseudofurcata was pre-occupied by Klumpp (1953) for another species. Lentin and Williams (1973) therefore designed the new species name S. varmae for the taxon. S. varmae is similar to S. pseudofurcatus, but differs in possessing a spherical central body and relatively short gonal processes with patulate to recurved endings.