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Systematophora complicata

Sysfematophora complicata Neale and Sarjeant, 1962

NOW Palaecysta. Originally Systematophora, subsequently (and now) Palaecysta.

Holotype: Neale and Sarjeant, 1962, pl.19, figs.6,7; Fauconnier and Masure, 2004, pl.75, figs.7–8.
Locus typicus: Speeton Clay, Heslerton, England
Stratum typicum: Late Hauterivian-middle Barremian

Original diagnosis: Neale and Sarjeant, 1962, p.454
A species of Systematophora having an ellipsoidal shell, of which one pole is lost in pylome formation. The shell is thick and very minutely granular. The processes within each cluster are strong and of moderate length; they may be linked to adjacent processes at their bases or by trabeculae at about half length; they may bifurcate at any level and constantly bifurcate or ramify at their distal extremity,
their branches being frequently confluent with those of adjacent processes. Some processes widen in antler-like fashion distally and are perforate. The arrangement of clusters is: Epitheca dorsal, 4 small clusters; ventral, 3 small clusters. Equator--?5 elongate areas, very poorly marked. Hypotheca dorsal, 3 clusters; ventral, 4 clusters. Antapex--?1 Iarge cluster. Structure of apex not known.

Original description: Neale and Sarjeant, 1962, p.454
The shell and processes are brownish-yellow. In pylome formation, breakage occurs along an irregular line, the upper third of the shell being lost. The process clusters are so complex as to be incapable of verbal description; their nature is best seen from the accompanying Text-figure (Text-fig. 9).
Dimensions: Type; overall length72.5 µm, breadth 67 µm, shell length 42 µm (upper third missing), breadth 38.5 µm.

Affinities:
Neale and Sarjeant, 1962, p. 454: Systematophora complicata sp. nov. differs from all described species in the nature and spacing of its process clusters. In arrangement, these correspond with those of S. orbifera Klement, 1960, but in the latter species the spines are widely spaced, bifurcate and linked only at their bases. S. orbifera differs also in its possession of a circular pylome with a smooth margin.
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