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Wetzeliella (Wetzeliella) symmetrica

Wetzeliella (Wetzeliella) symmetrica Weiler, 1956

Tax. sr. synonym of Hystrichosphaeridium saturnium Maier, 1959, according to Sarjeant, 1983
Holotype: Weiler, 1956, pl.11, fig.1
Age: Middle Oligocene

Weiler 1956, p. 132: Wetzeliella symmetrica
Diagnosis: Flattened central body with rhomboidal, not totally square outline. At the four corners horns are present. None of the horns shows a more favoured growth. No indications for transverse or longitudinal furrows are present. The shell is transparent, smooth and resistant against mechanical pression. The dark coloured inner capsule does not touch the outer wall of the shell anywhere. The shell and horns are regularly ornamented by slender, similar shaped processes. The processes are hollow and distally forked into 2-4 scaly branches.
Dimensions: length and breadth: 165-180 Ám.
Descriptions (translated from German and shortened): Ca. 400 specimens are studied. In all specimens the outline is equal. The fossils are always recognisable by their square form. Only minor variation is observed. The development of a fifth horn was not observed. The inner capsules (present in all specimens) are almost square with rounded corners, sometimes the roundening results in an almost circular outline. Always a cavity is present between inner capsule and outer wall.
Striking is the presence of archeopyles, which has a pear-shaped outline in all specimens. The blunt end is ¦ outside the centre of the capsule, the broadest part is about two-third the length.

Affinities:
Weiler 1956, p. 132-133: Wetzeliella symmetrica.
The here described species differs distinctly from W.articulata, which resembles most to the description, by the continuous build-up of only four horns. The horns are also of equal size, in contrast to other species in this genus.
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