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Cordosphaeridium funiculatum
Cordosphaeridium funiculatum, Morgenroth, 1966; Emendation: Brinkhuis, 1992, p.97, as Cordosphaeridium funiculatum.
Originally (and now) Cordosphaeridium, subsequently Tityrosphaeridium?.
Sarjeant, 1981, provisionally transferred this species to Tityrosphaeridium Sarjeant, 1981. Lentin and Williams, 1985, retained it in Cordosphaeridium.
Holotype: Morgenroth, 1966, pl.6, fig.2
Locus typicus: fehmarn, Katharinenhof, NW Germany
Stratum typicum: Early Eocene
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Original description: [Morgenroth 1966, p. 23]: (Translation: LPP):
Diagnosis:
On the shell surface a reticulum of solid ridges is present.
Processes in upper third part often split up in 2-4 branches, which, again branched, are running approximately parallel to each other.
Description (annotated):
The spherical, sometimes weakly ellipsoidal shell is double layered. The periphragm exists of solid ridges, producing a reticulate pattern on the shell.
These give rise to the processes, that accordingly show a fibrous structure. The processes show large variation in shape. Dominating are relatively thick, robust processes (mainly in the upper third part), which split up in 2-4 almost parallel running branches, which again split up or widen distally. Also occurring are all transitions to thin, sharp pointed forms. In the broadest processes little cavities can be present at the base, as concluded by the pyrites-enclosures. Except for the cavities, the processes are solid. The process-length varies even within the same specimen. Almost all studied specimens posses a horseshoe- shaped pylome. In addition ellipsoidal and almost circular pylomes do occur.
Dimensions:
Diameter capsule: 57 (56/59) µm; specimen diameter 106 (101/117) µm; length processes 28 (25/33) µm; pylome diameter c. 28 (25/30) µm (150 specimens measured).
Affinities:
Characteristic for Cordosphaeridium funiculatum is the reticulate pattern of solid ridges on the surface combined with fibrous structures forming the processes, which furcate branches always runs close to each other, instead of away from each other like in Cordosphaeridium inodes ssp. gracile Eisenack.
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Supplemental description:
Gocht, 1969, p.43: (Translation: Geological Survey of Canada):
Description and remarks:
Three specimens very closely approximate C. funiculatum. The external membranes are coarsely reticulate, the processes consist of large, hanked cylinders with the fibers still fasciate distally or only slightly asunder. However, the strands usually fill the processes only loosely, so that the latter are not hard and solid as in Morgenroth's finds. One of the specimens lies dorsoventrally and shows the horseshoe-shaped pylome. The process arrangement is like that of C. inodes; the process directly below the middle of the pylome, designated as "a" in that arrangement, is strongly developed. Possibly also this form represents an extreme of the inodes group.
Measurements:
Maximal extension 114 µm, main body 55-66 µm.
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Notes:
G.L. Williams short notes on species, Mesozoic-Cenozoic dinocyst course, Urbino, Italy, May 17-22, 1999 - LPP VIEWER CD-ROM 99.5.
Cordosphaeridium funiculatum Morgenroth, 1966a, emend Brinkhuis, 1992. Brinkhuis (1992) emended the diagnosis to include forms with shorter and broader processes; these forms are appear to be restricted to lower latitudes. This species has the identical netlike reticulate wall structure to Operculodinium divergens but differs in having only one process per plate. The processes appear to be solid.
Size: central body diameter 56-59 µm, overall diameter 101-117 µm, process length 25-33 µm.
Originally (and now) Cordosphaeridium, subsequently Tityrosphaeridium?.
Sarjeant, 1981, provisionally transferred this species to Tityrosphaeridium Sarjeant, 1981. Lentin and Williams, 1985, retained it in Cordosphaeridium.
Holotype: Morgenroth, 1966, pl.6, fig.2
Locus typicus: fehmarn, Katharinenhof, NW Germany
Stratum typicum: Early Eocene
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original description: [Morgenroth 1966, p. 23]: (Translation: LPP):
Diagnosis:
On the shell surface a reticulum of solid ridges is present.
Processes in upper third part often split up in 2-4 branches, which, again branched, are running approximately parallel to each other.
Description (annotated):
The spherical, sometimes weakly ellipsoidal shell is double layered. The periphragm exists of solid ridges, producing a reticulate pattern on the shell.
These give rise to the processes, that accordingly show a fibrous structure. The processes show large variation in shape. Dominating are relatively thick, robust processes (mainly in the upper third part), which split up in 2-4 almost parallel running branches, which again split up or widen distally. Also occurring are all transitions to thin, sharp pointed forms. In the broadest processes little cavities can be present at the base, as concluded by the pyrites-enclosures. Except for the cavities, the processes are solid. The process-length varies even within the same specimen. Almost all studied specimens posses a horseshoe- shaped pylome. In addition ellipsoidal and almost circular pylomes do occur.
Dimensions:
Diameter capsule: 57 (56/59) µm; specimen diameter 106 (101/117) µm; length processes 28 (25/33) µm; pylome diameter c. 28 (25/30) µm (150 specimens measured).
Affinities:
Characteristic for Cordosphaeridium funiculatum is the reticulate pattern of solid ridges on the surface combined with fibrous structures forming the processes, which furcate branches always runs close to each other, instead of away from each other like in Cordosphaeridium inodes ssp. gracile Eisenack.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Supplemental description:
Gocht, 1969, p.43: (Translation: Geological Survey of Canada):
Description and remarks:
Three specimens very closely approximate C. funiculatum. The external membranes are coarsely reticulate, the processes consist of large, hanked cylinders with the fibers still fasciate distally or only slightly asunder. However, the strands usually fill the processes only loosely, so that the latter are not hard and solid as in Morgenroth's finds. One of the specimens lies dorsoventrally and shows the horseshoe-shaped pylome. The process arrangement is like that of C. inodes; the process directly below the middle of the pylome, designated as "a" in that arrangement, is strongly developed. Possibly also this form represents an extreme of the inodes group.
Measurements:
Maximal extension 114 µm, main body 55-66 µm.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
G.L. Williams short notes on species, Mesozoic-Cenozoic dinocyst course, Urbino, Italy, May 17-22, 1999 - LPP VIEWER CD-ROM 99.5.
Cordosphaeridium funiculatum Morgenroth, 1966a, emend Brinkhuis, 1992. Brinkhuis (1992) emended the diagnosis to include forms with shorter and broader processes; these forms are appear to be restricted to lower latitudes. This species has the identical netlike reticulate wall structure to Operculodinium divergens but differs in having only one process per plate. The processes appear to be solid.
Size: central body diameter 56-59 µm, overall diameter 101-117 µm, process length 25-33 µm.