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Spiniferites hyperacanthus
Spiniferites hyperacanthus (Deflandre and Cookson, 1955) Cookson and Eisenack, 1974
Originally Hystrichosphaera, subsequently Achomosphaera, thirdly (and now) Spiniferites.
Taxonomic junior synonym (at specific rank): Hystrichosphaera furcata var. multiplicata (as Spiniferites ramosus subsp. multiplicatus), according to Matsuoka (1985a, p.35) — however, Londeix et al. (2009, p.66) retained the latter taxon.
Motile equivalent: Gonyaulax spinifera complex, according to Matsuoka et al. (1989, p.94).
Reid (1974, p.603) also proposed this combination.
Holotype: Deflandre and Cookson, 1955, pl.6, fig.7
Locus typicus: Balcombe Bay, Victoria
Stratum typicum: Miocene
Original diagnosis: Deflandre and Cookson, 1955, p.264: Hystrichosphaera hyperacantha
Shell globular, spherical or almost spherical; polygonal fields characteristic of the genus with fine, sometimes almost indistinguishable outlines, the equatorial series recognizable by the alignment of the processes Stalks of processes long, stiff, often slender, divided unto 3 distinct branches with simple or bifurcate apices, inserted both at the angles of the fields and along their sides, the usual arrangement being 1 process to each angle of the field and 2 along each side.
Dimensions: Diameter of shell 54-59 µm, overall diameter 92-97 µm, length of processes 13-20 µm.
Originally Hystrichosphaera, subsequently Achomosphaera, thirdly (and now) Spiniferites.
Taxonomic junior synonym (at specific rank): Hystrichosphaera furcata var. multiplicata (as Spiniferites ramosus subsp. multiplicatus), according to Matsuoka (1985a, p.35) — however, Londeix et al. (2009, p.66) retained the latter taxon.
Motile equivalent: Gonyaulax spinifera complex, according to Matsuoka et al. (1989, p.94).
Reid (1974, p.603) also proposed this combination.
Holotype: Deflandre and Cookson, 1955, pl.6, fig.7
Locus typicus: Balcombe Bay, Victoria
Stratum typicum: Miocene
Original diagnosis: Deflandre and Cookson, 1955, p.264: Hystrichosphaera hyperacantha
Shell globular, spherical or almost spherical; polygonal fields characteristic of the genus with fine, sometimes almost indistinguishable outlines, the equatorial series recognizable by the alignment of the processes Stalks of processes long, stiff, often slender, divided unto 3 distinct branches with simple or bifurcate apices, inserted both at the angles of the fields and along their sides, the usual arrangement being 1 process to each angle of the field and 2 along each side.
Dimensions: Diameter of shell 54-59 µm, overall diameter 92-97 µm, length of processes 13-20 µm.