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Systematophora capricorna
Systematophora? capricorna (Cookson and Eisenack, 1965a, p.128–129, pl.15, figs.1–9) Eisenack, 1969a, p.113. Emendation: Stover and Williams, 1995, p.107, as Cooksonidium capricornum.
NOW Cooksonidium. Originally Cordosphaeridium, subsequently Systematophora?, thirdly Areosphaeridium, fourthly (and now) Cooksonidium. Questionable assignment: Eisenack (1969a, p.113).
Taxonomic senior synonym: Hystrichosphaeridium (as and now Areosphaeridium) dictyostilum, according to Sarjeant (1981, p.115–116) — however, Lentin and Williams (1985, p.26) retained Areosphaeridium (now Cooksonidium) capricornum.
Holotype: Cookson and Eisenack, 1965a, pl.15, fig.7; Fauconnier and Masure, 2004, pl.7, figs.7–10.
Stratum typicum: Browns Creek Clays, SW. Victoria
Locus typicus: Late Eocene
Original description: Cookson and Eisenack, 1965, p.128: Cordosphaeridium capricornum
Shell approximately spherical with numerous radially arranged appendages of characteristic form which vary in number in individual specimens and in size, form, and structure in one and the same specimen. All are solid; some are simple with unbranched or slightly branched apices or with terminal bifurcations which extend laterally and are upwardly or downwardly curved, others are broadly flattened and perforated to varying degrees with broad apices which narrow gradually as they curve backwards towards the shell. The upper surface of the apices and their extensions are consistently finely denticulate (Pl. 15, fig. 8, 9). The bases of the larger appendages are semicircular to, occasionally, almost circular, and similarly the tips of the apical prolongations sometimes appear to touch but, in reality, are never connected. The appendages are sometimes faintly and longitudinally striated; shorter and more pronounced striations may be evident at or near their points of origin. The surface of the shell is faintly granular.
The archcopyle is apical, thc opcrculum bearing four appandages, two relatively large and two small (Pl. 15, fig. (,1).
At the antapex an approximately circular area, outlined either completely (Pl. 15, fig. 6) or incompletely by a ridge to which a few small simple appendages may or may not be attached, has been seen. Such an area is suggestive of an antapical field.
Dimensions:
Holotype - overall width c. 78 µm, width of shell c. 52 µm.
Range - overall width c. 70-94 µm, width of shell c. 43-52 µm; appendages c. 18-30 µm long.
NOW Cooksonidium. Originally Cordosphaeridium, subsequently Systematophora?, thirdly Areosphaeridium, fourthly (and now) Cooksonidium. Questionable assignment: Eisenack (1969a, p.113).
Taxonomic senior synonym: Hystrichosphaeridium (as and now Areosphaeridium) dictyostilum, according to Sarjeant (1981, p.115–116) — however, Lentin and Williams (1985, p.26) retained Areosphaeridium (now Cooksonidium) capricornum.
Holotype: Cookson and Eisenack, 1965a, pl.15, fig.7; Fauconnier and Masure, 2004, pl.7, figs.7–10.
Stratum typicum: Browns Creek Clays, SW. Victoria
Locus typicus: Late Eocene
Original description: Cookson and Eisenack, 1965, p.128: Cordosphaeridium capricornum
Shell approximately spherical with numerous radially arranged appendages of characteristic form which vary in number in individual specimens and in size, form, and structure in one and the same specimen. All are solid; some are simple with unbranched or slightly branched apices or with terminal bifurcations which extend laterally and are upwardly or downwardly curved, others are broadly flattened and perforated to varying degrees with broad apices which narrow gradually as they curve backwards towards the shell. The upper surface of the apices and their extensions are consistently finely denticulate (Pl. 15, fig. 8, 9). The bases of the larger appendages are semicircular to, occasionally, almost circular, and similarly the tips of the apical prolongations sometimes appear to touch but, in reality, are never connected. The appendages are sometimes faintly and longitudinally striated; shorter and more pronounced striations may be evident at or near their points of origin. The surface of the shell is faintly granular.
The archcopyle is apical, thc opcrculum bearing four appandages, two relatively large and two small (Pl. 15, fig. (,1).
At the antapex an approximately circular area, outlined either completely (Pl. 15, fig. 6) or incompletely by a ridge to which a few small simple appendages may or may not be attached, has been seen. Such an area is suggestive of an antapical field.
Dimensions:
Holotype - overall width c. 78 µm, width of shell c. 52 µm.
Range - overall width c. 70-94 µm, width of shell c. 43-52 µm; appendages c. 18-30 µm long.