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Spiniferites nortonensis
Spiniferites nortoniensis Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988
Holotype: Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, pl.13, fig.1a-b; text-fig.19
Paratype: Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988
Locus typicus: Norton Sound COST No. 1 Well, Norton Sound, Bering Sea
Stratum typicum: Hystrichophaeropsis variabile Zone; Late Miocene
Original diagnosis: Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, p.79
Intermediate roundly pentagonal to subspherical proximochorate cysts. Epicyst similar to hypocyst in size and shape; both lacking polar projections. Periphragm thick and coarsely granular and endophragm thinner and smooth; both phragma in contact except at processes and parasutures. Processes of two types; gonal processes short, relatively wide, cylindrical, sometimes membranous at the base and hollow with irregularly furcate to foliate distal extremities; sutural processes rare simple bifid or non-furcate distally. Parasutural septa membranous moderately high, without ornament and representing the paratabulation 4", 0a, 6", 6c, 6""", 1p, 1"""", xs. Paracingulum prominent but narrow, comprising six transversely rectangular paraplates and laevorotary; parasulcus shallow and mostly lacking defined sulcal paraplates. Archeopyle simple precingular and formed by the loss of paraplate 3".
Description: Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, p.80
The central body varies from subspherical to roundly pentagonal and lacks apical and antapical horns. Gonal and sutural processes are present. The gonal processes are variable in shape and are cylindrical, tapering or buccinate, and sometimes membranous at the base. The distal extremities of the gonal processes vary from minutely denticulate to irregularly furcate. Sutural processes occur rarely and are simple. The paracingulum is relatively narrow (about 4µm wide) and strongly helicoid. The parasulcus is shallow and mostly without delineated sulcal paraplates.
Dimensions: Holotype; length of cyst 58 µm, width 51 µm, length of processes 12-14 µm, Range; length of cyst 51-58 µm, width 41-51 µm, length of processes 9-12 µm. Number of specimens measured; 5.
Thecal affinities: Unknown; probably related to the genus Gonyaulax based on the paratabulation.
Affinities:
Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, p.80: Spiniferites nortonensis is characterized by its central body shape and short broad gonal processes with irregular distal endings. The species resembles S. bulloideus (Deflandre and Cookson) in possessing a relatively small and subspherical central body, but differs in having short, wide and sometimes membranous gonal processes. S. nortonensis is also similar to S. strictus Matsuoka, but differs in bearing short and sometimes hollow gonal processes.
Holotype: Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, pl.13, fig.1a-b; text-fig.19
Paratype: Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988
Locus typicus: Norton Sound COST No. 1 Well, Norton Sound, Bering Sea
Stratum typicum: Hystrichophaeropsis variabile Zone; Late Miocene
Original diagnosis: Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, p.79
Intermediate roundly pentagonal to subspherical proximochorate cysts. Epicyst similar to hypocyst in size and shape; both lacking polar projections. Periphragm thick and coarsely granular and endophragm thinner and smooth; both phragma in contact except at processes and parasutures. Processes of two types; gonal processes short, relatively wide, cylindrical, sometimes membranous at the base and hollow with irregularly furcate to foliate distal extremities; sutural processes rare simple bifid or non-furcate distally. Parasutural septa membranous moderately high, without ornament and representing the paratabulation 4", 0a, 6", 6c, 6""", 1p, 1"""", xs. Paracingulum prominent but narrow, comprising six transversely rectangular paraplates and laevorotary; parasulcus shallow and mostly lacking defined sulcal paraplates. Archeopyle simple precingular and formed by the loss of paraplate 3".
Description: Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, p.80
The central body varies from subspherical to roundly pentagonal and lacks apical and antapical horns. Gonal and sutural processes are present. The gonal processes are variable in shape and are cylindrical, tapering or buccinate, and sometimes membranous at the base. The distal extremities of the gonal processes vary from minutely denticulate to irregularly furcate. Sutural processes occur rarely and are simple. The paracingulum is relatively narrow (about 4µm wide) and strongly helicoid. The parasulcus is shallow and mostly without delineated sulcal paraplates.
Dimensions: Holotype; length of cyst 58 µm, width 51 µm, length of processes 12-14 µm, Range; length of cyst 51-58 µm, width 41-51 µm, length of processes 9-12 µm. Number of specimens measured; 5.
Thecal affinities: Unknown; probably related to the genus Gonyaulax based on the paratabulation.
Affinities:
Matsuoka and Bujak, 1988, p.80: Spiniferites nortonensis is characterized by its central body shape and short broad gonal processes with irregular distal endings. The species resembles S. bulloideus (Deflandre and Cookson) in possessing a relatively small and subspherical central body, but differs in having short, wide and sometimes membranous gonal processes. S. nortonensis is also similar to S. strictus Matsuoka, but differs in bearing short and sometimes hollow gonal processes.