Back
Surculosphaeridium phoenix

Surculosphaeridium? phoenix (Duxbury, 1980) Lentin and Williams, 1981

NOW Cymososphaeridium?. Originally Hystrichosphaeridium?, subsequently Surculosphaeridium?, thirdly (and now) Cymososphaeridium?.
At the time of the transfer, Lentin and Williams, 1981 questionably included this species in Surculosphaeridium. Below, 1982 questionably retained the species in Hystrichosphaeridium Deflandre, 1937; however, Sarjeant, 1984 questionably retained it in Surculosphaeridium. Questionable assignment: Fauconnier in Fauconnier and Masure (2004, p.159) to Cymososphaeridium.

Holotype: Duxbury, 1980, pl.13, figs.5,6; text-fig.9
Locus typicus: Speeton Clay, Speeton, England
Stratum typicum: Barremian

Original diagnosis: Duxbury, 1980, p. 124: Hystrichosphaeridium phoenix
A chorate cyst with a small, smooth central body which is spheroidal, thoUgh usually extensively folded and which bears long (up to 3/4 main body diameter), solid processes. The processes are smooth and may number up to 20 per individual. Each process flares proximally, and distally divides into a number (usually 6--8) of slender, flat spines. The overall diameter of the process terminations may exceed the main body radius.
Observed Dimensions: Holotype--76 x 73 µ. Overall--84 (71) 57 x 76 (65) 52 µ.


Duxbury. 1980, p. 124: Hystrichosphaeridium phoenix
Hystrichosphaeridium recurvatum and Melitasphaeridium choanophorum both have hollow processes with distal spines (or fringes with spines) around the distal tubular margins. This contrasts with the solid processes of Hystrichosphaeridium phoenix. Bacchidinium polypes and Taleisphaera hydra possess solid processes but the number of such processes is markedly greater than in Hystrichosphaeridium phoenix.
Also, the first two taxa have a constantly greater main body/overall diameter ratio than the latter. Taleisphaera hydra has angularity to the main body and penitabular crests and neither of these features is demonstrated by Hystrichosphaeridium phoenix.
Feedback/Report bug