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Spiniferites supparus
Spiniferites supparus (Drugg, 1967) Sarjeant, 1970
Originally Hystrichosphaera, subsequently (and now) Spiniferites.
Holotype: Drugg, 1967, pl.4, fig.5
Locus typicus: Escarpado Canyon, California, U.S.A.
Stratum typicum: Maastrichtian-Danian
Original diagnosis: Drugg, 1967, p.24: Hystrichosphaera suppara
Test ovoid to somewhat rectangular in outline. The wall is double-layered, the two layers closely appressed except where the outer layer gives rise to the hollow processes. Both layers are thin, smooth to finely granulate. The processes are broad at the base and taper rapidly to the tips which are usually trifurcate or bifurcate. The trifurcate ones are those which arise from the junctures of the plate fields. The extreme tips are slightly capitate to bifurcate. The distal ends are closed. The processes are often interconnected for a considerable distance up from the bases by web-like membranes. The fields and girdle of the genus Hystrichosphaera are present although not clearly discernable because of the large ornate processes and the tendency of the thin outer layer to fold. The archeopyle is seldom observed but when present is precingular in position.
Dimensions: Holotype, body 47x67 µm; Paratype, body 55x58 µm; range 42-67 µm, processes about 17 µm long.
Affinities:
Drugg, 1967, p.24: Hystrichosphaera suppara
This species is perhaps most closely allied to H. furcata (Ehrenberg) O. Wetzel from which it differs primarily in the nature of the processes which are wider at the base and more frequently interconnected by web-like membranes. The fields are less easily visible, and the inner layer of the wall is separated from the outer layer over greater areas. This separation delineates a more or less subspherical inner capsule which is plainly visible in H. suppara. The nature of the processes in very similar to those of Baltishaeridium neptunii Eisenack, 1958.
Originally Hystrichosphaera, subsequently (and now) Spiniferites.
Holotype: Drugg, 1967, pl.4, fig.5
Locus typicus: Escarpado Canyon, California, U.S.A.
Stratum typicum: Maastrichtian-Danian
Original diagnosis: Drugg, 1967, p.24: Hystrichosphaera suppara
Test ovoid to somewhat rectangular in outline. The wall is double-layered, the two layers closely appressed except where the outer layer gives rise to the hollow processes. Both layers are thin, smooth to finely granulate. The processes are broad at the base and taper rapidly to the tips which are usually trifurcate or bifurcate. The trifurcate ones are those which arise from the junctures of the plate fields. The extreme tips are slightly capitate to bifurcate. The distal ends are closed. The processes are often interconnected for a considerable distance up from the bases by web-like membranes. The fields and girdle of the genus Hystrichosphaera are present although not clearly discernable because of the large ornate processes and the tendency of the thin outer layer to fold. The archeopyle is seldom observed but when present is precingular in position.
Dimensions: Holotype, body 47x67 µm; Paratype, body 55x58 µm; range 42-67 µm, processes about 17 µm long.
Affinities:
Drugg, 1967, p.24: Hystrichosphaera suppara
This species is perhaps most closely allied to H. furcata (Ehrenberg) O. Wetzel from which it differs primarily in the nature of the processes which are wider at the base and more frequently interconnected by web-like membranes. The fields are less easily visible, and the inner layer of the wall is separated from the outer layer over greater areas. This separation delineates a more or less subspherical inner capsule which is plainly visible in H. suppara. The nature of the processes in very similar to those of Baltishaeridium neptunii Eisenack, 1958.