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Coronifera oceanica

Coronifera oceanica Cookson and Eisenack, 1958, p.45, pl.12, figs.5-6. Emendation: May, 1980, p.48-49.

Taxonomic senior synonym: Hystrichosphaera? (as Coronifera) pedata, according to Sarjeant (1985b, p.145-147) - however, Kirsch (1991, p.71) retained Coronifera oceanica.
Taxonomic junior synonym: Hystrichosphaeridium (as Coronifera) monstruosum, according to Below (1982c, p.5) - however, Fauconnier in Fauconnier and Masure (2004, p.176) retained Hystrichosphaeridium (as Diphyes?) monstruosum.

Holotype: Cookson and Eisenack, 1958, pl.12, fig.6; Fensome et al., 1991, fig.2 - p.697; fig.2 - p.701.
Locus typicus: Wapet's Well no. 7, Exmouth Gulf area, W Australia
Age: Albian.

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G.L. Williams short notes on species, Mesozoic-Cenozoic dinocyst course, Urbino, Italy, May 17-22, 1999 - LPP VIEWER CD-ROM 99.5.

Coronifera oceanica Cookson and Eisenack, 1958, emend. May, 1980. According to May (1980, p.48-49), this species has a spherical to ovoidal central body. The periphragm has numerous, slender, tapering, nontabular processes, which are simple, bifurcate or trifurcate, and often joined proximally by low sutural folds and/or high, thin membranes. There is a distinctive apical and antapical process and a distinctive apical nipple. The antapical process is smooth, large and tubular, terminating with a denticulate margin. Cyst surface markedly wrinkled, not fibrous, and bears numerous nontabular crests, which connect basal portions of processes. Combination archeopyle, type (A)a + P, apical series dislodged as a unit, seldom missing, plate 3" usually removed. Size: overall 90-105 x 81-86 µm, central body 57-76 x 36-48 µm, antapical horn length 14 µm.
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Original description: Cookson and Eisenack 1958, p. 45
In the type specimen, the shell is approximately oval in outline and prolonged at one end into a straight, four-sided tubular horn with a denticulate edge, and at the other into a stiff pointed spine. The surface is granular and covered with rather long and flaccid, thin, simple or more usually bifurcate appendages. In the specimen shown in Pl. XII, fig. 5, the larger tubular horn is considerably compressed and the pointed spine appears to be missing; in addition, the bases of some of the appendages on one side have fused, forming a denticulate ledge.
Dimensions: Holotype 90x81 Ám overall; shell 57x48 Ám; hollow horn 17 Ám long.

Supplemental description: Davey, 1969, p. 162
The shell is subspherical to ovoidal, thin-walled, and bears numerous processes of length between one-quarter and one-third of the shell diameter. There is, occasionally, a slight apical prominence beneath the apical process. Fine fibres radiate from the bases of the proccsses over the shell surface reminiscent of those on the shell surface of Exochosphaeridium striolatum (Deflandre). The processes are weak, fairly flexuous and commonly joined to each other by a network of low crests or fine membranes. The latter may be proximal or may extend along the entire length of the processes. Distally the processes are closed and may be simple, bifurcate or trifurcate. A large tubular process is present at the antapex; it is open distally and terminates with a denticulate margin. At the apex, when attached, there is a process which is only slightly larger than the typical proccsses but is usually branched and, therefore, distinctive. The large archaeoplye, developed in the majority of specimens, has an angular margin and forms opposite the antapical process. A number of specimens of C. oceanica were observed in the Albian sample from Fetcham Mill (FM 886). They resemble the specimens of Eisenack (1958) from the Aptian of Germany in that the proccsses are fewer, more solid and are usually simple.

Emended description: May, 1980, p. 48-49
Cyst spherical to ovoidal, circular in polar view. Periblast and endoblast very closely appressed overall; no pericoels observed. Endophragm smooth; periphragm formed into numerous, slender, tapering, apparently nontabular spines, which are simple, bifurcate, or trifurcate, and often proximally joined by low sutural folds and/or high, thin membranes. Periphragm also formed into a distinctive apical and antapical process, and small apical nipple. Apical process not distinctively large; however, sets on the apical nipple, giving it additional height; divides distally into three or more prongs, and is slender in appearance. Antapical process smooth, large, and tubular. and terminating with a denticulate margin. No sulcus or cingulum observed. Cyst surface markedly wrinkled, not fibrous, and bears numerous low nontabular crests which connect basal portions of processes. Combination archeopyle, (Type (A)a + P): apical series dislodges as a unit, seldom missing; plate equivalent 3'' probable main excystment aperture, generally missing.
Dimensions: Observed range (21 specimens measured): length main body 46-66 Ám, width 44-66 Ám; apical process length 16-17 Ám; antapical process length 18-22 Ám; nontabular process length 22-26 Ám.(Pl. 8, figs. 8, II)
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