Back
Spiniferites aquilonius
Spiniferites aquilonius Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988
Taxonomic senior synonym: Achomosphaera (as Spiniferites) andalousiensis, according to Strauss in Strauss and Lund (1992, p.169).
Matsuoka in Head and Wrenn (1992, p.26) considered this species to be a possible taxonomic junior synonym of Spiniferites septentrionalis, but not of Achomosphaera andalousiensis.
Holotype: Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, pl.11, fig.6a-d, text-fig.17A
Paratype: Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988
Locus typicus: Norton Sound COST No. 1 Well, Norton Sound, Bering Sea
Stratum typicum: Late Miocene
Original diagnosis: Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, p.74-75
Intermediate ovoidal to subspherical proximochorate cyst. Epicyst almost equal to hypocyst in size and shape, without apical projection; hypocyst without antapical projections. Periphragm non-pigmented, smooth to finely granular; endophragm thin and smooth; both adpressed except at processes. Parasutural septa distinctive and membranous without ornament, and clearly representing the paratabulation 4", 0a, 6", 6c, 6""", 1p, 1"""", xc. Processes gonal, long, slender and erect with trifurcate distal extremities which are mostly short, bifid and often irregularly and roughly reticulate. Sutural processes absent. Shaft of processes membranous especially at the base and concave-triangular in transverse cross section. Paracingulum comprising six rectangular paraplates, and relatively narrow and laevorotary. Parasulcus delimited by well-developed parasutural ridges. almost straight, and expanding onto the epicyst. Archeopyle simple, precingular and sometimes reduced; operculum monoplacoid (3") and detached.
Original description: Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, p.75
The cyst body varies from subspherical or ovoidal to ellipsoidal in shape. The epicyst is similar to the hypocyst in size and lacks an apical horn. An antapical horn is absent. The cyst wall is smooth and relatively thick. The processes are membranous and sometimes perforated near their distal ends. The distal tips are trifurcate with bifid ends, and are usually irregularly perforated. Parasutural septa are also membranous. The paracingulum is approximately one-sixth of the cyst length, laevorotary and displaced by approximately its own width.
Dimension: Holotype; length of cyst 55 µm, width 45 µm, length of processes 15 µm, width of paracingulum 7 µm, Range; length of cyst 52-55 µm, width 43-45 µm, length of processes up to 15 µm. Number of specimens measured; 5.
Affinities:
Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, p.15: Spiniferites aquilonius is similar to Achomosphaera andalusiensis Jan du Chêne (a senior syononym of Spiniferites septentrionalis Harland). Both species possessing gonal processes with reticulate distal extremities, but S. aquilonius differs in having parasutural septa plus longer and more membranous processes.
Taxonomic senior synonym: Achomosphaera (as Spiniferites) andalousiensis, according to Strauss in Strauss and Lund (1992, p.169).
Matsuoka in Head and Wrenn (1992, p.26) considered this species to be a possible taxonomic junior synonym of Spiniferites septentrionalis, but not of Achomosphaera andalousiensis.
Holotype: Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, pl.11, fig.6a-d, text-fig.17A
Paratype: Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988
Locus typicus: Norton Sound COST No. 1 Well, Norton Sound, Bering Sea
Stratum typicum: Late Miocene
Original diagnosis: Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, p.74-75
Intermediate ovoidal to subspherical proximochorate cyst. Epicyst almost equal to hypocyst in size and shape, without apical projection; hypocyst without antapical projections. Periphragm non-pigmented, smooth to finely granular; endophragm thin and smooth; both adpressed except at processes. Parasutural septa distinctive and membranous without ornament, and clearly representing the paratabulation 4", 0a, 6", 6c, 6""", 1p, 1"""", xc. Processes gonal, long, slender and erect with trifurcate distal extremities which are mostly short, bifid and often irregularly and roughly reticulate. Sutural processes absent. Shaft of processes membranous especially at the base and concave-triangular in transverse cross section. Paracingulum comprising six rectangular paraplates, and relatively narrow and laevorotary. Parasulcus delimited by well-developed parasutural ridges. almost straight, and expanding onto the epicyst. Archeopyle simple, precingular and sometimes reduced; operculum monoplacoid (3") and detached.
Original description: Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, p.75
The cyst body varies from subspherical or ovoidal to ellipsoidal in shape. The epicyst is similar to the hypocyst in size and lacks an apical horn. An antapical horn is absent. The cyst wall is smooth and relatively thick. The processes are membranous and sometimes perforated near their distal ends. The distal tips are trifurcate with bifid ends, and are usually irregularly perforated. Parasutural septa are also membranous. The paracingulum is approximately one-sixth of the cyst length, laevorotary and displaced by approximately its own width.
Dimension: Holotype; length of cyst 55 µm, width 45 µm, length of processes 15 µm, width of paracingulum 7 µm, Range; length of cyst 52-55 µm, width 43-45 µm, length of processes up to 15 µm. Number of specimens measured; 5.
Affinities:
Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, p.15: Spiniferites aquilonius is similar to Achomosphaera andalusiensis Jan du Chêne (a senior syononym of Spiniferites septentrionalis Harland). Both species possessing gonal processes with reticulate distal extremities, but S. aquilonius differs in having parasutural septa plus longer and more membranous processes.