Back
Senegalinium cuvillieri
Senegalinium cuvillieri (Boltenhagen, 1977) Lentin and Williams, 1980
Originally Deflandrea, subsequently (and now) Senegalinium.
Holotype: Boltenhagen, 1977, pl.17, fig.3
Age: Campanian
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original description: [Boltenhagen, 1977] (translated from French):
Deflandrea cuvillieri nov. sp.
Pointe-Clairette Series, Campanian; Port-Gentil (Gabon, Equatorial Africa).
DIAGNOSIS
Theca pentagonal in outline, punctate to microgranular, short horns, apical horn with a rounded apex, pointed antapical horns, a weakly defined circular cingulum, generally bordered by folds, and a broad sulcus. Smooth capsule almost adherent to the theca, except at the horns.
DESCRIPTION
In dorsiventral projection, this species has an approximately pentagonal outline. The sides of the pentagon are sometimes strongly convex, and the side belonging to the antapex is shorter than the others. In semilateral projection, the outline is ovoid. The thin thecal membrane, observed at 320x magnification, appears punctate or microgranular. At 800x magnification and especially in phase contrast, microspinules a few fractions of a micron in height, tightly packed, are visible in the median optical section, covering the entire surface of the theca. When projected onto the theca, these microspinules produce in places the effect of tiny parallel dashes. The circular cingulum is faintly traced, generally more or less masked and deformed by folds of its edges. The sulcus crosses a large part of the hypotheca. Its edges are most often affected by folds. The capsule, apparently smooth, is almost adherent. A thin border separates it from the theca membrane, and its detachment is only clearly visible at the level of the horns. The latter are short, conical or cylindro-conical, more or less sunk into the theca. The apical horn has a well-rounded summit, the other two are pointed. On the holotype, sutures can be seen on the epitheca which would indicate a subtriangular intercalary archaeopyle.
DIMENSIONS
Holotype: theca (with horns): L' = 88 μ
theca (without horns): L'' x l = 77 x 84 μ
capsule L''' x l = 72 x 80 μ
horns: apical h' = 12 μ
antpical h''-h"' = 14 - 10 μ
cingulum: l' = 7 μ
Paratypes: theca (with horns): L' = 108 - 92 - 83 μ
(without horns): L'' x l = 80 x 90 μ; 73 x 74 μ; 71 x 80 μ
capsule L x l = 77 x 84 μ; 69 x 72 μ; 69 x 76 μ
horns: apical h' = 20 - 23 - 16 μ
antpical h''-h"' = 12-17 μ; 13-14 μ; 12-20 μ
cingulum: l = 4 - 5 - 6 μ
3 other specimens:
theca (with horns): L x l = 92 x 70 μ; 88 x 73 μ; 93 x 87 μ
capsule L x l = 65 x 66 μ; 69 x 70 μ; 66 x 82 μ
horns h = 12-13-15-16 μ - 17 μ
cingulum l = 5 - 6 - 7 μ
COMPARISON
This species is distinguished from other species of Deflandrea EIS. 1938 by its squat theca entirely occupied by the capsule, as well as by its rounded cylindroconical apical horn while its antapical horns are pointed. In this last characteristic, the described species resembles D. conica VOZ. 1960 and differs in its microsculpture.
Stratigraphic and Geographic Position
Upper Cretaceous: Campanian, Gabon (Port-Gentil and Fernan-Vaz).
Originally Deflandrea, subsequently (and now) Senegalinium.
Holotype: Boltenhagen, 1977, pl.17, fig.3
Age: Campanian
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Original description: [Boltenhagen, 1977] (translated from French):
Deflandrea cuvillieri nov. sp.
Pointe-Clairette Series, Campanian; Port-Gentil (Gabon, Equatorial Africa).
DIAGNOSIS
Theca pentagonal in outline, punctate to microgranular, short horns, apical horn with a rounded apex, pointed antapical horns, a weakly defined circular cingulum, generally bordered by folds, and a broad sulcus. Smooth capsule almost adherent to the theca, except at the horns.
DESCRIPTION
In dorsiventral projection, this species has an approximately pentagonal outline. The sides of the pentagon are sometimes strongly convex, and the side belonging to the antapex is shorter than the others. In semilateral projection, the outline is ovoid. The thin thecal membrane, observed at 320x magnification, appears punctate or microgranular. At 800x magnification and especially in phase contrast, microspinules a few fractions of a micron in height, tightly packed, are visible in the median optical section, covering the entire surface of the theca. When projected onto the theca, these microspinules produce in places the effect of tiny parallel dashes. The circular cingulum is faintly traced, generally more or less masked and deformed by folds of its edges. The sulcus crosses a large part of the hypotheca. Its edges are most often affected by folds. The capsule, apparently smooth, is almost adherent. A thin border separates it from the theca membrane, and its detachment is only clearly visible at the level of the horns. The latter are short, conical or cylindro-conical, more or less sunk into the theca. The apical horn has a well-rounded summit, the other two are pointed. On the holotype, sutures can be seen on the epitheca which would indicate a subtriangular intercalary archaeopyle.
DIMENSIONS
Holotype: theca (with horns): L' = 88 μ
theca (without horns): L'' x l = 77 x 84 μ
capsule L''' x l = 72 x 80 μ
horns: apical h' = 12 μ
antpical h''-h"' = 14 - 10 μ
cingulum: l' = 7 μ
Paratypes: theca (with horns): L' = 108 - 92 - 83 μ
(without horns): L'' x l = 80 x 90 μ; 73 x 74 μ; 71 x 80 μ
capsule L x l = 77 x 84 μ; 69 x 72 μ; 69 x 76 μ
horns: apical h' = 20 - 23 - 16 μ
antpical h''-h"' = 12-17 μ; 13-14 μ; 12-20 μ
cingulum: l = 4 - 5 - 6 μ
3 other specimens:
theca (with horns): L x l = 92 x 70 μ; 88 x 73 μ; 93 x 87 μ
capsule L x l = 65 x 66 μ; 69 x 70 μ; 66 x 82 μ
horns h = 12-13-15-16 μ - 17 μ
cingulum l = 5 - 6 - 7 μ
COMPARISON
This species is distinguished from other species of Deflandrea EIS. 1938 by its squat theca entirely occupied by the capsule, as well as by its rounded cylindroconical apical horn while its antapical horns are pointed. In this last characteristic, the described species resembles D. conica VOZ. 1960 and differs in its microsculpture.
Stratigraphic and Geographic Position
Upper Cretaceous: Campanian, Gabon (Port-Gentil and Fernan-Vaz).