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Wetzeliella solida
Wetzeliella solida (Gocht, 1955) Williams and Downie, 1966
Now Dracodinium. Originally (and now) Dracodinium, subsequently Wetzeliella.
Costa and Downie, 1979, retained this species in Dracodinium Gocht, 1955.
Holotype: Gocht, 1955, text-figs.3a-b
Age: Eocene or Oligocene
Translation Gocht, 1969: Geological Survey of Canada
Gocht, 1969, p.19
This species, known previously only from N Germany, was recently found by Williams and Downie in the English Tertiary. Only in exceptional cases, a greatly reduced apical horn is present or indicated, showing an affinity with W. samlandica, which also occurs in the higher Early Eocene strata, sometimes together with W. solida. Usually the apex is convex and smooth. The lateral horns vary considerably, from long "wings" to barely visible sinuations (figure 9). However, as a rule they are well developed. One apical horn is always, the other seldom, reduced. The frequent "slitting" of the ends of the horns into individual processes may be regarded as typical. The inner body, in its primary state, evidently had a relatively thin wall. However, there is a thick brown layer of organic substance over it, which usually fills the space between the two membranes, leaving only the horns free. The outer surface of this layer is granular. This layer corresponds with the flocculent deposits and "caps" on other Wetzeliella species such as Wetzeliella draco. Gocht, 1955 did not recognize the nature of the filling when he mentioned an "inner body with two walls". The processes, which are scattered sparsely or in greater numbers over the outer armor, have slender, flexible shafts with very fine spinules at the end.
The archeopyle is subapical, or- more seldom- apical. It is certainly not the case that these specimens with an apical pylome belong to another species or even (as conjectured by Williams and Downie) another genus. The alteration of the apex compared to other Wetzeliella species, expressed in the reduction of the apical horn, easily explains the poleward displacement of the intercalary opening. As is shown by intermediate forms, it is within the normal range of variation. Occurrence: Early- ?Late Eocene.
Now Dracodinium. Originally (and now) Dracodinium, subsequently Wetzeliella.
Costa and Downie, 1979, retained this species in Dracodinium Gocht, 1955.
Holotype: Gocht, 1955, text-figs.3a-b
Age: Eocene or Oligocene
Translation Gocht, 1969: Geological Survey of Canada
Gocht, 1969, p.19
This species, known previously only from N Germany, was recently found by Williams and Downie in the English Tertiary. Only in exceptional cases, a greatly reduced apical horn is present or indicated, showing an affinity with W. samlandica, which also occurs in the higher Early Eocene strata, sometimes together with W. solida. Usually the apex is convex and smooth. The lateral horns vary considerably, from long "wings" to barely visible sinuations (figure 9). However, as a rule they are well developed. One apical horn is always, the other seldom, reduced. The frequent "slitting" of the ends of the horns into individual processes may be regarded as typical. The inner body, in its primary state, evidently had a relatively thin wall. However, there is a thick brown layer of organic substance over it, which usually fills the space between the two membranes, leaving only the horns free. The outer surface of this layer is granular. This layer corresponds with the flocculent deposits and "caps" on other Wetzeliella species such as Wetzeliella draco. Gocht, 1955 did not recognize the nature of the filling when he mentioned an "inner body with two walls". The processes, which are scattered sparsely or in greater numbers over the outer armor, have slender, flexible shafts with very fine spinules at the end.
The archeopyle is subapical, or- more seldom- apical. It is certainly not the case that these specimens with an apical pylome belong to another species or even (as conjectured by Williams and Downie) another genus. The alteration of the apex compared to other Wetzeliella species, expressed in the reduction of the apical horn, easily explains the poleward displacement of the intercalary opening. As is shown by intermediate forms, it is within the normal range of variation. Occurrence: Early- ?Late Eocene.