Samlandia vermicularia McMinn, 1988

Holotype: McMinn 1988: Fig. 7G
Locus typicus: Wapet Rough Range South-1, 701.0-703.0 m, Carnarvon Basin.
Stratum typicum: Late Cretaceous
Age: Early Maastrichtian

Original description: McMinn 1988, p.152
Cysts are holocavate, proximate and subspherical to ellipsoidal in shape. Their height is typically greater than their width. The wall consists of an appressed endophragm and periphragm and an ectophragm supported by ridges developed on the periphragm. These ridges are wide, between 3 µm and 5 µm high and globular to sinuous. Their distal tips are usually connected by a discontinuous ectophragm. The endophragm is 2-3 µm thick and finely granular. The periphragm is thinner (approx. 1 µm thick) and between the processes is smooth to finely granular. A small apical horn (6-8 µm) is developed as an extension of the periphragm and ectophragm. The archeopyle is precingular, type P, and the operculum is free although often in place. There is no other indication of paratabulation.

Size. Autocyst (excluding processes); length 73(63)58µm, width 66(58)53 µm. Twenty specimens were measured.

Comparison. Thick globular or vermiculate sculpture distinguishes Samlandia vermicularia from other species. The variation of the periphragm ornament in S. vermicularia, S. mayi and S. carnarvonensis does not represent a continuous spectrum of ornament types as the three varieties of ornament, represented by the three species, are distinctive.

Occurrence. Rare in the Cladopyxidium foveolatum Subzone (early Maastrichtian) of the Carnarvon and Bonaparte Basins.