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Spiniferites nodosus
Spiniferites nodosus (Wall, 1967) Sarjeant, 1970
Originally Hystrichosphaera, subsequently (and now) Spiniferites.
Taxonomic senior synonym: Hystrichosphaera (as and now Spiniferites) bentorii, according to Reid (1974, p.598) and Harland (1977b, p.98–99) — however, Lentin and Williams (1981, p.264) retained Spiniferites nodosus.
Taxonomic junior synonym: Leptodinium churchillii, according to Reid (1974, p.599).
Motile equivalent: Gonyaulax digitalis (Pouchet, 1883) Kofoid, 1911, according to Wall and Dale (1967, p.352).
Holotype: Wall, 1967, pl.14, figs.7-9
Locus typicus: CoreA240/18, CariacoTrench (10¦ 30.8" N, 64¦ 40" W)
Stratum typicum: Quaternary
Original diagnosis: Wall, 1967, p. 101: Hystrichosphaera nodosa
A species of Hystrichosphaera with much reduced spines forming small sclerotia at the plate-area angles.
Dimensions. Test 31x28 µm to 62x52 µm. 20 specimens.
Original description: Wall, 1967, p. 101: Hystrichosphaera nodosa
The test is ovoid with weakly truncated apices. The plate-areas are defined by distinct but low (1µm or less) sutural septa and are typical in number and arrangement for the genus. The characteristic processes are restricted to the corners of plate-areas. They are small, either bifurcate or trifurcate and recurve strongly towards their own bases or lie along the test surface so that there appears to be a small pad or sclerotium of tissue at each junction. Only rarely do the spines project more than a few microns above the test wall. The species forms a typical 3" archeopyle and has a weakly inclined furrow.
Remark: This species gives the impression that as a cyst it was closely pressed against its parental thecal covering and that the spines were unable to develop fully, but it is not necessarily an immature form.
Originally Hystrichosphaera, subsequently (and now) Spiniferites.
Taxonomic senior synonym: Hystrichosphaera (as and now Spiniferites) bentorii, according to Reid (1974, p.598) and Harland (1977b, p.98–99) — however, Lentin and Williams (1981, p.264) retained Spiniferites nodosus.
Taxonomic junior synonym: Leptodinium churchillii, according to Reid (1974, p.599).
Motile equivalent: Gonyaulax digitalis (Pouchet, 1883) Kofoid, 1911, according to Wall and Dale (1967, p.352).
Holotype: Wall, 1967, pl.14, figs.7-9
Locus typicus: CoreA240/18, CariacoTrench (10¦ 30.8" N, 64¦ 40" W)
Stratum typicum: Quaternary
Original diagnosis: Wall, 1967, p. 101: Hystrichosphaera nodosa
A species of Hystrichosphaera with much reduced spines forming small sclerotia at the plate-area angles.
Dimensions. Test 31x28 µm to 62x52 µm. 20 specimens.
Original description: Wall, 1967, p. 101: Hystrichosphaera nodosa
The test is ovoid with weakly truncated apices. The plate-areas are defined by distinct but low (1µm or less) sutural septa and are typical in number and arrangement for the genus. The characteristic processes are restricted to the corners of plate-areas. They are small, either bifurcate or trifurcate and recurve strongly towards their own bases or lie along the test surface so that there appears to be a small pad or sclerotium of tissue at each junction. Only rarely do the spines project more than a few microns above the test wall. The species forms a typical 3" archeopyle and has a weakly inclined furrow.
Remark: This species gives the impression that as a cyst it was closely pressed against its parental thecal covering and that the spines were unable to develop fully, but it is not necessarily an immature form.